3 minute read
A snapshot of the support races on The Gong program.
Schiller gets early Run on the board in Highway
Reigning champion Sydney apprentice Tyler Schiller has continued his heady recent run of form with a Highway Handicap victory aboard Albury gelding Tap 'N' Run at Kembla Grange.
Schiller took his strikerate to seven wins from his past 18 rides when he brought the $6.50 chance down the centre of the track to defeat Atmospheric Rock ($7) by a half-length with Free State ($41) a further 1-1/4 lengths in arrears.
Midfield in the Country Championships Final on a heavy track in April, Tap 'N' Run appreciated the firm conditions and a return to his pet distance of 1400 metres.
"It was the perfect race for him today, so glad to get the opportunity and glad to get the result," trainer Ron Stubbs said.
"We asked him (Schiller) to have him midfield and he has once again ridden a perfect race. He's in great form and he's an asset to have on board."
Tap 'N' Run was unplaced first-up over an unsuitable 1000m, then indicated he was nearing another win with a tough midfield effort at Rosehill last month when he drew off the track.
With a better run in transit on Saturday, the gelding was able to record his fourth win.
"Today he got a great run, I thought he was very strong late," Schiller said.
Schiller made it a double a few races later aboard the Nathan Doyle-trained Starboreta in the PFD Food Services Handicap (1200m).
Calm and Confidence right recipe for Shameonus
Bjorn Baker's decision to back-up Shameonus from a confidence-boosting victory last weekend proved the right call as the gelding made it two in a row in the Elite Sand & Soil Handicap (2000m) at Kembla.
Shameonus had been winless since taking out the Orange Cup in April but dropped back to provincial grade seven days ago, he bounced back to his best and carried that momentum into Saturday's race.
"Confidence is a big thing in racehorses," winning jockey Josh Parr said.
"He is oozing confidence, the team is going well, things are good."
In a strongly run race, the five-year-old went to the front early but when he was taken on for the lead, Parr was content to ease back and camp off the frontrunners.
Shameonus ($9.50) ended up in a beautiful trailing position and pounced in the straight, scoring by 1-1/4 lengths over Tampering ($21) with Main Stage ($16) holding third.
"As well as being fit he was really calm today and that has been a big advantage for him and his racing style today," Parr said.
Glen Lobb, representing the Baker stable, said they had been keen to capitalise on the horse's race fitness but felt the biggest factor was a strong ride from Parr.
"That's the key to him. Last week Brock (Ryan) rode him quite similar to what Josh rode him today and he was able to get away with a provincial win," Lobb said.
"Coming here today we said to Josh, just stand over him, and if he can lead, lead, if something has a go at you, let them go and get him working from the 600.
"He was on the quick back-up and we thought he'd go alright."
Quick Tempo hits the right note
Multiple Group 1 placegetter Vormista is clearly the best horse Mark Minervini has trained but he reckons he's had none faster than Saturday's Kembla Grange winner Quick Tempo.
"He can do things wrong, but I've trained for 30 years and he is the quickest horse I've had," Minervini said.
Luckless when unplaced at Randwick last start, Quick Tempo was able to find clear galloping room in the Eleven Eleven Handicap (1000m), unleashing a sharp turn of foot for Jason Collett to storm down the outside and defeat Sacrimony by three-quarters of a length.
Minervini said he went into the race filled with confidence after the horse turned in a resounding trackwork gallop on Tuesday.
"He's a horse with pretty good ability and it has been cruel to watch him get beaten a few times but we made up for it today, I'm really thrilled," Minervini said.
"It looked like at the 100 metre mark, he was going to throw it away, he was wanting to run around a bit. But that just shows you how much ability he's got.
"His gallop on Tuesday morning, Mikayla Weir rode him for me at Newcastle and fair dinkum, I don't think his feet touched the ground in the straight. He was absolutely airborne.
"I knew today he only needed to have a bit of fresh air and he'd be hard to hold out."
Starboreta rockets to last-stride win
Trainer Nathan Doyle was all but resigned toStarboreta emerging from the fifth event at Kembla Grange as the hard-luck story of the race before the mare burst through a late split to land her first metropolitan win.
Apprentice Tyler Schiller had nowhere to go on Starboreta for most of the straight but continued to sweat on a run and his persistence paid dividends, but not before giving the horse's trainer some anxious moments.
"She would have been very unlucky if she didn't win," Doyle said.
"From the 400 to the last 10 metres she was held up and just climbing over their backs looking for runs.
"He got her out at the right time and it was a terrific win."
A six-year-old, Starboreta made her debut less than 18 months ago after her early career was thwarted by knee problems.
However, her syndicate of owners persevered, and the mare has now won five of her 14 starts.
"I don't think she won a race until she was a five-year-old, just with knee issues, but they gave her time and they're reaping the rewards now," Doyle said.
Starboreta ($10) arrived in the nick of time to pip Pretty Wild ($4.40 equal fav) with Amathuba ($8.50) third, just ahead of Bowery Breeze ($21) with less than a length separating the first four across the line.
Quote of the day: "I'm just happy I'm getting the rides. You can't do it without the horse and big thanks to James (Cummings), he's a genius and I'm just happy he is supporting me on days like this because it really helps me." – apprentice Zac Lloyd after winning The Warra aboard Godolphin's Athelric.
