Precious Gem took out a bizarre edition of the 2016 Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville this afternoon to record a maiden win at Group 1 level.
Precious Gem finished over the top of her rivals to take out the Robert Sangster Stakes. Photo by: Jenny Barnes
Vezalay crossed the rest of the field to take up the lead in the early stages of the Robert Sangster Stakes from Sheidel, but havoc ensued when Luke Nolen fell off Miss Promiscuity and the riderless horse kept on running with the rest of the field.
Miss Promiscuity affected the chances of several horses in the straight – most notably her stablemate Sheidel – and there looked to be about eight winning chances at the 200 metres and Precious Gem snuck up on the rail to record an upset victory.
Precious Gem made her racing debut under the care of Gwenda Johnstone in 2012 and she was placed in races like the Group 3 Eliza Park International Stakes (1600m) and Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) under the care of her old trainer, but she has gone to another level since she joined the Henry Dwyer stable at the end of last year.
She made her debut for Dwyer when she took out the Building Engineering Trophy (1400m) at Flemington on December 12 and she was sent to the spelling paddock after a flat effort in the Listed Lord Stakes (1700m) at Caulfield on Boxing Day.
Precious Gem returned to the races with a close second behind Thermal Current in the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at Mornington on April 2 and she earnt herself a trip to Adelaide for the Robert Sangster Stakes when she won the Listed Anniversary Vase (1400m) at Caulfield on April 16.
Her victory is the second at the highest level for Dwyer, who took out the 2014 edition of the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) after being a registered trainer for a little over a year.
Sheidel continued her impressive run of form since joining the Lindsay Park with her close second and she was arguably unlucky not to record a maiden victory at the highest level of racing.
The Holy Roman Emperor mare made her Melbourne racing debut with defeats as favourite at Moonee Valley and Sandown, but she stamped herself as genuine Robert Sangster Stakes contender with a narrow victory in the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on April 23.
I Love It once again saved her best form for the Robert Sangster Stakes and she finished third for a second year in a row.
Nolen was trampled by a horse after falling from Miss Promiscuity and at the time of writing the only news that had been received was that he was conscious and being taken to hospital.
