FIVE-year-old gelding Stoddart ($6) performed a “it’s what the doctor ordered” win to the elation of injured part-owner-trainer Michael O’Neill and fellow Wauchope stand-in trainer Colt Prosser at Taree races on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Prosser grabbed his second win with Stoddart after O’Neill handed over his training duties when he broke a wrist in a horse accident.
“So long as we both get a feed,” was O’Neill’s summation of the partnership.
Ironically, Wauchope jockey Belinda Hodder was beaten a short head on Stoddart at its previous run by Port Macquarie jockey Ben Looker on Taree gelding Akamin but this time the placing’s were reversed.
Hodder rode an exceptional race to be just behind the leaders on the rail after coming from a wide barrier and unlike previously being hemmed in by Akamin, this time she angled out turning for home and dashed away for a 1.5 lengths win in the Krambach Cup 19 Oct.Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1000m.
“This horse needs a slot for The Kosciuszko ($1.3million race at Royal Randwick),”
Prosser said in the joy of the moment.
“He has improved out of sight.
“Belinda was swinging on him at the 600m and made up for the bad luck at its last start.
“He’ll go through his grades.
“He is starting to dapple up in the coat,” he said.
Akamin ($4.40), trained by Matthew Robinson, again showed its liking for the Taree track where all of its five wins have been recorded at the distance.
About 17 hands high five-year-old gelding Sepae ($4.40), ridden by Chad Lever for Newcastle trainer Paul Perry, again showed its front-running capability in leading most of the way for a just under a length win in the Melb.Cup At Manning Valley Benchmark 66 Handicap over his pet distance of 1250m.
“He is a strong bugger…he just keep rocking and rolling,” Lever told foreman Nathan Perry.
Port jockey Peter Graham fresh from a winning treble at Armidale on Saturday, never left the fence in a charmed ride for a half-length win on four-year-old mare Dream A Lot ($3.50), trained at Taree by Bob Milligan, it ending a frustrating four placings in 13 starts in the Saxbys Soft Drink Maiden Plate over 1000m.
Graham said: ”I rode her patiently…I thought I might be in trouble on the fence…it was just luck.”
A string of barrier trials for education paid off with $150,000 three-year-old gelding Fuji Fury ($3.40) beating Taree’s Pinnacle Power ($2.40), trained by Ross Stitt, by a neck in the XXXX Gold Maiden Handicap over 1400m at its first start.
The win continued the great success of Newcastle trainer Kris Lees and stable jockey Andrew Gibbons.
Kempsey four-year-old mare Karlu Dreaming ($10), trained by Hilary Dew for his wife, Patricia and himself, made up for some consistent form with a well-judged winning ride by apprentice Louise Day in the XXXX Gold Maiden Handicap over 1400m.
Patricia said the win and two placings had the mare “paying her way”.
A wide barrier didn’t stop Port jockey Ben Looker from making it two wins in a row at the track on Gosford gelding Zoffany’s Lad, trained by Grant Allard, in the Corporate Functions at Manning Valley Class 1 & Maiden Plate over 1600m.
Trainer Craig Weeding’s first trip to the track from Hawkesbury provided a win with five-year-old mare Caliera Gem ($3.50), ridden by apprentice Brendon Griffiths, who also notched his first win at the track, in the Book Now For Melb Cup Class 1 Handicap over 1300m.
