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It’s been a breakout year for Hawkesbury trainers Philippe and Tara Vigouroux – and it’s getting better.
The husband and wife training duo landed the Jazcom Thoroughbreds Benchmark 64 Handicap (1000m) on their home track on Sunday with Azcannyaz, part-owned by Hawkesbury Race Club chairman Ken Quigley.
The six-year-old’s victory capped an excellent weekend for the pair after they scored with Stars Galawe on the synthetic track at Canberra on Friday.
The Canberra and Hawkesbury wins boosted their season’s tally to 13 – equaling the total number of winners they had prepared in the previous three seasons.
Philippe Vigouroux singled out a couple of factors for such an excellent season.
“The Hawkesbury poly track opened 12 months ago and has changed things around with training,” he said.
“It’s a great asset.
“Azcannyaz was a bit unsound last preparation but he has come back good. I also have to thank Bruce Johnson for use of the water walker at North Richmond.”
Team Vigouroux provided a perfect example of their skills by getting both Azcannyaz and Stars Galawe ready to win first-up without trials.
Stars Galawe hadn’t raced since November and her breakthrough success at Canberra wasn’t out of turn as it came at her 27th start after 10 minor placings.
Team Vigouroux nearly landed a Canberra double as We Could Be Heroes, also resuming, was narrowly beaten in the C1 Handicap (1080m).
Azcannyaz, a six-year-old by Canny Lad, also has been a prolific placegetter, being in the money on no less than 18 occasions in 40 starts for four wins.
He was having his first start since finishing sixth at Orange in November.
Hawkesbury’s leading trainer Brad Widdup recorded a special win with two-year-old Delago Deluxe filly Parlour on Sunday’s progam.
It was his 37th winner for the season but importantly his first for the Kelly family, of Newhaven Park Stud fame.
“It’s a privilege to be given horses to train for the Kelly family,” Widdup said.
“This filly is only the second runner I have started for them.”
