Leading South Australian trainer Leon Macdonald has a Spring Oaks contender with Go Indy Go after the filly took out the Group 1 $400,000 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick today.
Go Indy Go wins Champagne Stakes. Photo by Steve Hart.
At only her fourth race start, Go Indy Go scored her second victory after winning the Group 3 $115,000 Sportingbet SA Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville Parks on April 12 and Macdonald has no doubt that the Bernardini filly will develop into a Crown Oaks contender in the Spring.
“Looks like a typical Oaks horse doesn’t she,” Macdonald said.
Macdonald had always held a very high opinion of the Go Indy Go and now rates her up amongst the best horses he has trained throughout his long success career.
“Right at the top and I’ve always thought that and I didn’t want like to say it before today,’ Macdonald said.
“She was very impressive. Young Chad was very confident before the race and he rode her accordingly, gave her a beautiful run.”
“She relished the mile but she beat nothing the other day at Morphettville but really it was a track-gallop her.”
Young jockey Chad Schofield continues to attract the accolades of owners and trainers with his coolness and timing and all was on show today as he collected his third Group 1 winner with a well-timed ride on the filly.
Schofield acquired national stardom when he led all of the way on Shamus Award to win last year’s Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley and then won the Group 1 $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) on Lankan Rupee at Flemington during the Melbourne Autumn Carnival.
Today Schofield settled Go Indy Go ($7) near the tail of the field and waited until heads had turned for home before easing out over the heels of favourite Peggy Jean ($3.20) and making his winning run down the centre of the Randwick straight.
Go Indy Go sustained her run to beat the Victorian colt Zululand ($17) by a length with Kumaon ($16) sneaking up along the fence for third.
Peggy Jean faded on her run to finish fifth just ahead of second favourite Veuvelicious ($3.70).
