3 minute read
Mandy Cottell looks back at the support races on the Festival Stakes program.
Family pet wins at Rosehill
Durable gelding Philipsburg might be regarded as the stable pet, but he continues to be a handy money-spinner for trainer James Ponsonby.
Philipsburg recorded his seventh win from 48 starts when backing up from a fifth at Gosford last weekend to claim Saturday's Midway Handicap (2000m) at Rosehill, taking his prizemoney to just shy of $450,000 in the process.
"How do you thank a horse, he's been a terrific family pet," Ponsonby said.
"Today he's taken his prizemoney over $400,000, he's never won a good race but he's a true gem to the stable and to the family and we're very appreciate of all the luck and success he's been able to provide us."
Adding impact to the win was the fact Philipsburg was partnered by Tom Sherry, who was apprenticed to now Hong Kong-based trainer Mark Newnham during Ponsonby's tenure as the latter's foreman.
Ponsonby credited Sherry's ride as the decisive factor in getting the horse back into the winner's circle.
"He had the horse out in good time and had him in clear running well before we straightened and the horse was able to knuckle down to the task," he said.
"When I was foreman for my old boss Mark Newnham, Thomas began there with us and I'm just really pleased to have been able to get a win with Tom."
Rawiller has key to Toesonthenose
There are few thoroughbreds Nash Rawiller doesn't get the best out of and trainer John Sargent is glad to be a current beneficiary of the top hoop's renowned horsemanship.
Toesonthenose had been racing competitively without winning - until Rawiller linked with the five-year-old at Newcastle last start and told Sargent he was going to try something different.
"He's probably been the turning point with the horse," Sargent said.
"When he got the ride at Newcastle he said, 'I'm going to ride this horse a bit colder', and I said, 'I don't know if that's the way to ride him'.
"He seems to know more than the trainer and he did it again today, held him up and came at them late and it seems to be suiting him."
Toesonthenose took out the Vale Ray Markey Handicap (1800m) by 1-1/2 lengths over Colour Sergeant.
The race was named after the late founder of the well-known Markey Saddlery and Rawiller said it was an honour to win it.
"Ray was someone who has been around the track ever since I moved to Sydney," Rawiller said.
"He's a fellow we all know very well and they're a great racing family. He will be sadly missed."
Group 3 goal for Lekvarte
Everest-winning trainer Joe Pride is enjoying an overseas holiday, but he has still managed to make his presence felt at Rosehill courtesy of a winning treble, kick-started by rejuvenated mare Lekvarte.
The daughter of Reliable Man showed ability as a younger horse before losing her way last preparation, however she is back to her best this time in.
After a first-up win over 1400m at Newcastle, she made light of her 61.5kg impost on Saturday to come from behind and blouse her Doyle's Breeding And Racing Handicap (1400m) rivals by a length.
"It was a brilliant training performance by Joe to keep her fresh enough for the 1400 metres second-up," winning jockey Tommy Berry said.
"To let down like she did with that sort of weight, a lot of credit goes to the team at home. She is above average, that's for sure.
"She was just a class above."
Lekvarte ($5.50) scored by a length over Shadows Of Love ($3.10 fav) with Cross The Rubicon ($21) third.
The winner, who is being targeted towards the Group 3 Belle of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Gosford on December 28, was one of three Rosehill winners for Pride along with Dragonstone (Starlight Stakes) and Stockman (Christmas Cup).
World awaits for Zegalo
Mike Cattell is hoping to take on the world with Country Classic winner Zegalo, adamant the best is ahead for the former Chris Waller gelding, who he has nursed back to health from a bowed tendon.
Cattell, who has just two horses on his books, says he has already fielded inquiries about taking Zegalo to Dubai for next year's Gold Cup, and longer-term has his sights on a famous English feature.
"It's a big thing for our stable. This horse had a bowed tendon and we fixed him and he might have just earned his ticket to Dubai," Cattell said.
"They (representatives from Dubai Racing Club) reached out last Saturday and said, 'what are your plans with him?' and I said, 'keep winning' and they said, 'if he wins on Saturday, we will write you an invitation'.
"I think he can take me around the world. I took my daughter to England, she was riding in Newmarket earlier this year, and we set up a friendship there.
"If I can get this horse over to an Ascot Gold Cup over 4000 metres, I've got big plans for him."
Ridden by Dylan Gibbons on Saturday, Zegalo hit the front halfway up the straight and clung to a narrow victory over the flying Eaglemont to capture the $160,000 Country Classic (2000m).
Zegalo is Cattell's first Sydney winner and while he has overseas aspirations for the stayer, the next test will be an interstate raid.
"I will look at the Bagot (Handicap) first on New Years' Day at Flemington. It's 2800 (metres), big straight, we will go there first," Cattell said.
Quote of the Day: "That's what happens when you get suspended, you give up good rides like her." – Tommy Berry missed Lekvarte's first-up win, but was back aboard for her strong Rosehill victory.
