3 minute read

The decision to run Plaquette in Melbourne rather than Sydney has paid off for Godolphin.

The Godolphin stable and James Cummings made the right decision to run Plaquette at Caulfield with the mare scoring an overdue win. 

Plaquette was also an acceptor at in the Uphire Handicap (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday, but the Godolphin team elected to start the four-year-old daughter of Exceed And Excel in the Michael Andrew AO Handicap (1200m) at Caulfield. 

It was a winning move as Plaquette rode the speed under Damien Oliver and proved too strong in the run home. 

Sent off the $3.40 favourite, Plaquette won by a long-neck from Pinyin ($12) with The Stylist ($17) a long-head away third. 

Sean Keogh, representing Cummings at Caulfield, said it was a terrific effort by the team in selecting Saturday's race. 

"That was a terrific win and a real credit to the team having been diligent and pinpointing the race," Keogh said. 

"She was scratched a fortnight ago at Flemington and she was dual-accepted this week. 

"The team just felt that she had a slight edge here at Caulfield. 

"Even just leading into today there was that slight bit of change of tactics, so it worked out really well." 

Keogh said the track on Saturday was favouring horses racing closer to the speed, so it was felt Plaquette should take advantage of that by being ridden closer. 

While that was the plan, Oliver said it is not as simple as making that adjustment on Plaquette who can misbehave in the barrier. 

"It's does not always go to script with her because she can be fractious in the gates, but being last in probably helped today," Oliver said. 

"She wasn't in long and she began well and from an outside gate we didn't have too many options but I felt if she was capable of taking that position without too much pressure, she'd be better suited."