Morton’s Fork stormed home in the final stages to record a narrow victory in an exciting edition of the 2016 Ladbrokes Sandown Guineas.
Morton’s Fork swooped down the outside to win the 2016 Ladbrokes Sandown Guineas. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Morton’s Fork started the Ladbrokes Sandown Guineas as a short-priced favourite and it didn’t look good for favourite backers when the Ad Valorem colt was still three lengths back at the 200 metre mark.
Jennifer Lynn and Ruthven looked as though they were going to fight out the finish, but Morton’s Fork kept finding the line and he got his nose down at the right time to take out the Ladbrokes Sandown Guineas.
Jockey Craig Williams was delighted with the turn-of-foot that Morton’s Fork showed in the final stages of the Ladbrokes Sandown Guineas and he even compared the horse to 2013 Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden.
“He didn’t have any favours in the run, but what I liked about him was that he pinned his ears back and there was a bit of Dunaden about it,” Williams said.
“I know he has big shoes to fill to get there, but he wanted to win.
“He is a really nice horse and I am really looking forward to see what they do with him in the autumn.
“He had to overcome going backing to line, I really didn’t want to give him too much to do going down the hill, but every time I urged him he just lengthened.”
Morton’s Fork had no luck when fifth in the Listed Gothic Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on October 15 and he was only narrowly denied by the talented Comin’ Through in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on October 29, which had Godolphin assistant trainer David Charles very confident about his chances in the Ladbrokes Sandown Guineas.
Charles was pleased to see the three-year-old get the job done and he believes that he is capable of developing into an even better horse in the autumn.
“He is a very honest horse and his form suggests that,” Charles said.
“John has had a very good opinion of him and we have been happy with the way that he has trained on since he has been in Melbourne.
“He was unlucky at Caulfield and he ran super at Flemington, so we were expecting him to run well today and he delivered.
“I think that he is a very exciting horse for us and his form says that.
“He knows where the winning post is and that is a great attribute to have in any sort of horse.”
Ruthven was very gallant in second and he is another horse with a big future, while Jennifer Lynn was checked twice at the top of the straight.
