Serene Tanie, the horse associated with aged apprentice Talia Rodder‘s well documented troubles, was strongly supported when winning the Fulton Hogan Handicap (1600m) at Moonee Valley tonight.
Backed from $26 into $13, the four-year-old mare scored just her second win in 24 starts.
Last Saturday, Racing Victoria Stewards suspended Rodder for six weeks after her ride on Serene Tanie at Moonee Valley.
They believe Rodder failed to make sufficient effort to restrain her mount from 1100m to passing the 600m.
It was exactly the stage of tonight’s race where new rider Chris Symons was able to give the bay a cushy time in front.
The Robbie Laing trained galloper was then taken on prior to the home turn by Princess Diablo with the rest visiably struggling.
Rounding the turn that challenge finished and Serene Tanie kicked clear and held on to beat Clearly Passionate and Red Rose Bud.
“Unfortunate for the girl (Rodder) because I had a look a the clock and she (Serene Tanie) ran her first 800m in 49 seconds tonight,” Laing said.
“On Saturday, with a horse going with her, she ran a second or so quicker which didn’t leave a lot in the tank.
“Last Saturday she raced fierce and knocked up but here, in a class 68, she was too good.
“I didn’t know if Chris (Symons) would have the guts to lead, we were all happy enough to have her ridden back if need be.
“But he pressed on and got an easy lead and she was too fit.
“She has been weak at her past two starts.
“She loomed up at Pakenham and weakened, last Saturday definitely weakened, but was rock hard fit after the quick back up and kept running t0night.
“The owners had a little eachway but they were very surprised when I told them she was a huge go.”
The win gave Symons a winning double having earlier scored on Reconcentrate.\
“I got left alone and she got a couple of cheap sectionals,” Symons said.
“Robbie told me to ride her where she jumps and she jumped well so I just allowed her to role.
“I was reluctant to ride the horse, I feel sorry for Talia, in my opinion she has been badly done by.”
Rodder is having her appeal heard by the RAD board on December 1.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | SERENE TANIE | Robbie Laing | Chris Symons | 9 | 56kg | $13 | |
| 2 | 8 | CLEARLY PASSIONATE | Gary Searle | Steven Arnold | 0.75L | 2 | 57kg | $8 |
| 3 | 12 | RED ROSE BUD | Fran Houlahan & Brian Johnston | Dean Yendall | 0.85L | 4 | 55.5kg | $4.20F |
| 4 | 1 | PRINCESS DIABLO | Mervyn McKenzie | Jarrod Fry (a2) | 0.95L | 10 | 59kg (cd 57kg) | $11 |
| 5 | 7 | COSMIC CHALLENGE | Mick Price | Craig Newitt | 1.15L | 6 | 57.5kg | $4.60 |
| 6 | 5 | GADABOUT | Vincent Malady | Ms Katelyn Mallyon (a3) | 2.4L | 8 | 58kg (cd 55kg) | $11 |
| 7 | 2 | ALGONA AVENUE (NZ) | Luke Oliver | Brad Rawiller | 2.9L | 1 | 58.5kg | $31 |
| 8 | 6 | BE TOLERANT | Greg Baker | Ms Holly McKechnie | 3.1L | 7 | 57.5kg | $12 |
| 9 | 9 | CYCLONE SARAH | Pat Trotter | Dwayne Dunn | 4.6L | 5 | 57kg | $31 |
| 10 | 3 | CLASSIC CAMEO | David Hayes | Jake Noonan (a1.5) | 4.7L | 3 | 58kg (cd 56.5kg) | $6.50 |
| 11 | 13e | ALL THAT RAZZ | Michael Cornish & Donna Gaskin | Jarrod Todd | 6.7L | 11 | 55.5kg | $31 |
| 12 | 4 | EQUAL RIGHTS | Simon Morrish | Ms Lisa Cropp | 12.7L | 12 | 58kg | $51 |
| 15e | INSCRIBE | Peter Snowden | Chris Symons | 0 | ||||
| 16e | HEARTFELT | Chris Clavarino | Ben Knobel (a3) | 0 | ||||
| 10 | DIXIE DOLL | Gerald Egan | Luke Nolen | 0 | ||||
| 14e | PINGUS | Gary Portelli | 0 |
