3 minute read
A look at some of the winning stories at Moonee Valley.
Derby hope for Gai
Ambassadorial has followed up a shock Sandown midweek victory with an all-the-way win in the Corporate Membership On Sale Plate (1500m).
Rebecca Shanks, representing trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, said the gelding had continued to improve each time he has been stepped up in trip.
Asked if the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington was on the agenda, Shanks said: "I'm sure Gai will have that pencilled in for him.
"It's very exciting for some great owners in Jane Chapple-Hyam and Anne Peacock, some very strong and impressive ladies who are involved in a very strong and impressive horse.
"We'll take him home, see how he pulls-up, but he's relished the step up in trip today and every time we've seen him step up in trip, he's loved it.
"Hopefully the 2500 (metres) in a few months will be a good sign for him."
Stayers go one-two
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable have added to their staying stocks with Future History holding off stablemate Interpretation in the Ranvet Handicap (2040m).
Future History was having his first run since early July after Eustace said a 'bad blood' result led to him being scratched from a contest.
"We thought we had got him to a race he could win," Eustace said.
"But we had to bypass it.
"He's a big horse and he just keeps galloping and Carleen (Hefel) did the right thing today putting a bit of pressure on Irish Flame early and he galloped out well to the line.
"I think he's a stayer on the way up."
Eustace was equally as happy with Interpretation in filling the runner-up position and said the gelding would head to a race over 2500m at Flemington in three weeks' time.
"We're really pleased with him," Eustace said.
"He's been gelded, and he's come back good as a racehorse now and he's also looking for further now."
Deny Knowledge goes all-the way
Trainer Mick Kent had planned a first-up run for Deny Knowledge in the Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last week, only to have a bout of hives enroute to the track force the mare's scratching.
"It was like having an itchy bum and not being able to scratch it," Kent said.
"They eventually settled down, but the vet wasn't quite happy, so they scratched her."
Instead, the Boozebud Handicap (1500m) became the mare's first-up assignment where she led throughout under apprentice Wiremu Pinn.
Kent hopes to be back at Moonee Valley in two weeks' time for the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) with Deny Knowledge who he says is a 'relentless galloper'.
"I was running there (the Lawrence) with a view to running in the Feehan as I like the three weeks break with her," Kent said.
"She puts a lot into her races, and I think three weeks suits her.
"I think if she got into a big handicap over a mile-and-a-half (2400m) she could give it a shake, something like the Geelong Cup might be good for her.
"She's a relentless galloper and her figures say she will run a trip, so I'm looking forward to getting her up to that trip at some stage."
Honest campaigner scores brave win
Katherine Coleman had extra reason to smile along with a happy group of owners after Hennessy Lad took out the Spring Dining On Sale Handicap (1600m).
Training in partnership with Peter Moody since the start of the season, Coleman saluted with her first runner at Pakenham on August 1, but had to wait until Saturday to register her first Saturday success.
She said it was onwards and upwards while she is looking forward to her first Group 1 runner at Caulfield next week when I Wish I Win runs in the Memsie Stakes (1400m).
Wylie Dalziel, managing part-owner of Hennessy Lad, said the gelding was such an honest horse.
"Moods and I bought him out of New Zealand, and he has never finished further back than fourth," Dalziel said.
"He always gives you a tough, honest effort and he's done that today."
Dalziel said the stable would not be getting overly ambitious early in the spring.
"We're all for taking him through the grades, so we won't rush him up to any Group races," Dalziel said.
"He might be a bit of a Pounding, progressively work his way through the grades and may get to top company one day.
"But one thing is, he is so honest."
Quote of the day
"She presented in good order and I basically had to keep her out of trouble. She was too good". Ben Melham after guiding Inhibitions to victory in the Ladbroke It! Handicap.
