3 minute read
A look at the non-Stakes races at Sandown on Saturday.
Three from four for Foxicon
Trainer Peter Moody will look to Adelaide for a Stakes race after Foxicon landed her third win from four starts in the current campaign.
Foxicon, ridden by apprentice Carleen Hefel, took out the Geoff Murphy Handicap (1200m) at her first run beyond 955m for the campaign.
Moody had concerns about Foxicon stepping up from the 955m to 1200m on a wet track and advised Hefel to give the mare as easy a run as possible.
Now that Foxicon has a Saturday win under the belt, Moody said a 'little' Stakes race over in Adelaide may be on the agenda.
"Is there a little Stakes race over there, a little Listed race," Moody asked.
"That was only an 84 today so let's not get excited but if we can keep building and find a little bit of Black Type while she is in good order, I wouldn't say no."
Hong Kong pair team up at Sandown
Trainer Smiley Chan and apprentice Gary Lo combined to win the Bert Bryant Handicap (1400m) with Lake Tai.
The victory was Chan's first at a Saturday meeting, while his only previous city winner came with Pierro Belle, also at Sandown a little over three years ago.
Both trainer and jockey hail from Hong Kong with Chan having worked as a banker before getting the 'horse bug' and moving to Australia and eventually setting up stables at Cranbourne.
Lo has been based in Adelaide for the majority of his apprenticeship and is currently in Melbourne with his master Phillip Stokes.
"This is my first-time riding for a Hong Kong trainer, it is a good combination," Lo said.
"I am from Hong Kong as well, so it was good to get the win for Smiley."
New tactics work for Lafarque
A campaign that kicked off with a win in Adelaide last year has continued with the Danny O'Brien-trained Lafarque scoring at Sandown.
Ben Gleeson, the assistant-trainer with O'Brien, was surprised to see jockey Jye Mcneil ease Lafarque back in the early stages of the Jack Elliott Handicap (1200m).
And Gleeson said the stable may have unearthed a new way to ride the gelding after he registered his fifth win from 18 starts.
"When Jye decided to go back the race was looking somewhat of a trainwreck but we've never really ridden the horse like that before so we might have just unearthed a new tactic," Gleeson said.
"It was a stroke of genius getting a path through the pack, the horse clearly thrived off that and it's the most impressive he's finished off."
Three straight for Gringotts
Not long after Explosive Jack returned to winning form taking out the Group 1 Sydney Cup, the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable was back in the winner's circle with Gringotts taking out the Noel Rundle Handicap (1600m) at Sandown.
The New Zealand-bred gelding had previously scored at Pakenham and Sandown before adding a Saturday victory to his record.
Jack Turnbull, representing the Maher and Eustace stable, said Gringotts still races a bit freely and the stable was trying to work the best distance for the gelding.
Turnbull added a trip to Queensland, rather than Adelaide, could be on the agenda for Gringotts.
"He cost a little bit out of New Zealand and it's just good to see the horse repay them," Turnbull said.
"He's had a long prep, he was sort of rejuvenated going down to the Cranbourne and getting to the beach and if we were to go anywhere, we may look at Queensland, but David and Ciaron decide that."
Quote of the day
"He's my friend now, he's from Hong Kong, so I'm pretty happy we team up together" - trainer Smiley Chan after Gary Lo guided Lake Tai to victory in the Bert Bryant Handicap.
