3 minute read
A snapshot of the support races on The Ingham program at Randwick.
Dale's Highway fortunes go from outhouse to Penthouse
Goulburn's latest resident trainer Matthew Dale has wasted no time claiming a Highway Handicap win from his new digs, taking out Saturday's country-restricted race with Penthouse.
One of the reasons Dale relocated from Canberra to Goulburn earlier this month was to increase his horse's chances of gaining a Highway Handicap start as ACT-trained gallopers are the first balloted out of the weekly fixtures.
He got an immediate result with Penthouse ($5.50), who was placed behind subsequent Group 1 winner In Secret at Listed level in May but had to overcome an outside draw against older, more seasoned rivals on Saturday.
Brenton Avdulla bounced her to the front and she held on to defeat Clifton Springs ($19) by a short head with Salire ($5 fav) another 1-1/2 lengths away.
James Harron, who manages the racing interests of the filly's breeder and part-owner Rob Love, said Penthouse's effort behind In Secret gave them confidence going into the Highway Handicap (1000m).
"We looked at that (run) a few starts backs and thought, 'gosh that looks alright now'," Harron said.
"She is a good, fast filly. She was really good today doing that work (early) and Matt has done a great job with her."
Guineas goal for Iowna Merc
Rachel King was quick to get her eye back in after a flying visit home to England, booting home the Bjorn Baker-trained Iowna Merc at her just her second ride.
Saturday's Randwick meeting was King's first since Festival Stakes day at Rosehill on November 26 and Baker wasn't about to let her ease back into work.
"She has been back in the UK for a week-and-a-half and I said, 'make sure you're out of holiday mode, I need this'," Baker quipped.
"No Christmas with no winners."
Three-year-old Iowna Merc has won two of his four starts and finished runner-up in the other two, his victory in The Jack Ingham AO Handicap (1100m) his first in Saturday metropolitan grade.
Baker thinks highly of the colt and may now raise the bar and run him in the Listed Gosford Guineas (1200m) on December 28.
"You've probably got to look at the Gosford Guineas. I've always thought he would be better over a little bit further, so we'll just see how he comes through it and go from there," Baker said.
"It was a good ride by Rachel, she really summed it up. She put him there, bang, he had no weight, he was rock-hard fit and she rode him like the best horse."
Iowna Merc ($4 fav) scored by three-quarters of a length over Sacrimony ($5), who was game in defeat, with Billiondollarbaby ($7.50) third.
Chevalier celebrates biggest win with Torrens
Winning jockey Josh Parr was almost as excited about Marc Chevalier Marc Chevalier's breakthrough success with Torrens in the Listed Christmas Cup (2400m) as the young trainer himself.
Torrens was the 34-year-old French-born horseman's first runner at Randwick, first city winner and maiden black-type winner and Parr was thrilled to deliver Chevalier the milestones.
"You won't find a finer man in this industry," Parr said, before turning to Chevalier: "I'm so thrilled for you."
Parr produced a riding masterclass, slotting Torrens ($19) in midfield and one off the fence from an outside draw then backing the horse's stamina by rousing him along before the home turn.
He showed a strong sprint at the end of the staying journey, careering away to score by 1-3/4 lengths over Bonny Ezra ($7) with Regal Lion ($6.50) another half-head away.
Chevalier has been in the industry for more than 15 years and was a breaker for the Aga Khan overseas before coming out to Australia over a decade ago.
"Eleven years ago I had an opportunity to come and work for six months at Arrowfield," Chevalier said.
"After six months I decided I'm not going back to France."
Taking out his trainers' licence at Hawkesbury 18 months ago, Chevalier had a tough start when the track and his stables were flooded.
But he persisted and his horses are starting to hit their straps.
Chevalier admitted he was "lost" after Torrens ran poorly in the ATC Cup (2000m) at Rosehill last start but the horse's owner told him not to give up.
"After his run the other day I was very disappointed but his owner, Vincent (Balasubramaniam), he reassured me. He said, 'it's not the first time he's done that, don't worry, just be confident and keep doing what you're doing, he looks great'," Chevalier said.
"He was actually very confident coming into the race today, more confident than I was."
Consolation prize for Nugget
He lucked out on a start in the $2 million The Ingham, but promising import Nugget landed a consolation win in the Thanks Bob & Jack Ingham Handicap (1600m) at Randwick.
Nugget was second emergency for the day's feature and had been the prevailing race favourite all week but with no scratchings come race day, connections had to head to the lesser assignment.
Lumping 61kg after the claim of apprentice Zac Lloyd, horse and jockey were forced to sweat on a run to the inside of leader Steely but when it came, Nugget surged through and fought off the brave runner-up to prevail narrowly.
Lloyd admitted to a few anxious moments but was happy to get the end result.
"It was a bit hairy for a couple of seconds," Lloyd said.
"I just waited for the runs and once Tyler (Schiller on Steely) shifted a bit, I was lucky enough I had the horse to explode through there.
"He's a very nice horse and I'm sure he's up to better things."
Quote of the day: "It's an honour to win a race of this calibre for a family that I always idolised because of what they've done in racing" – trainer John O'Shea on the significance of Kirwan's Lane win in The Ingham, named in honour of the popular racing family.
