Patinack Farm scored a two state double when its strong finishing mare Wonderful Lass boosted her broodmare value by gaining black-type in the Listed Recognition Stakes (1600m) today.
The John Thompson-trained mare needed every inch of the long Eagle Farm straight to snatch a narrowly victory over Carry Me Bluey who was given a daring ride by Chris Munce.
Carry Me Bluey was strongly backed but it was apparent it wouldn’t be easy task when caught off the track early.
Luckily it was the free-rolling Rockdale in front which opened gaps in the field and Munce eventually had Carry Me Bluey fourth in the running line.
Apprentice Tim Bell gave Wonderful Lass a cushy run on the fence in seventh position.
The well fancied Fillydelphia setttled third on the fence.
Munce took off at the 600m and swept to the lead entering the straight.
It left Fillydelphia in a pocket with the bolter Writer holding it in.
Bell saw the danger but was fourth lengths from Carry Me Bluey at the 250m mark.
Fillydephia and Wonderful Lass came strongly as Carry Me Bluey fought tenaciously only to go down in the final stride.
Danagaze (4th) and Fifteen Carat (5th) both finished strongly from near the tail but never threatened the top three.
Patinack won earlier in the day with promising two-year-old Ferment at Caulfield.
The win just the fourth for Wonderful Lass in 24 starts.
“She’s been to the races a few times lately and just hasn’t turned up a couple of times,” Bell said.
“But she was up closer to the pace today which helped.”
Wonderful Lass will be now aimed at the Listed Bernborough Handicap (1615m) at Doomben on December 31
Trainer Norm Hilton will target the same race for Carry Me Bluey.
“It was a big run but it’s always disappointing to lose,” Hilton said.
“He only lost in a bob of the head finish.
“I think Chris (Munce) probably had to go too soon on him but it doesn’t change anything.”
Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 12 | WONDERFUL LASS | John P Thompson | Timothy Bell (a) | 2 | 53kg | $12 | |
2 | 9 | CARRY ME BLUEY | Norm Hilton | Chris Munce | 0.1L | 8 | 53kg | $1.90F |
3 | 2 | FILLYDELPHIA | Robert Heathcote | Jim Byrne | 1.4L | 9 | 57kg | $3.80 |
4 | 10 | DANAGAZE | Lawrie Mayfield-Smith | Brad Stewart | 1.8L | 6 | 53kg | $13 |
5 | 6 | FIFTEEN CARAT | Howard Wilson | Paul Hammersley | 2.3L | 12 | 53kg | $26 |
6 | 3 | HUMMA | Robert Heathcote | Glen Colless | 6L | 10 | 57kg | $11 |
7 | 11 | CORNWALL PARK (NZ) | Alan Bailey | Jason Taylor | 6.1L | 14 | 53kg | $41 |
8 | 7 | ROCKDALE (NZ) | John Morrisey | Luke Rolls (a) | 6.2L | 3 | 53kg | $18 |
9 | 5 | ROYAL REIGN (NZ) | William Pholi | Mitchell Wood (a) | 6.5L | 4 | 53kg | $41 |
10 | 13 | WRITER | Danny J Bougoure | Ryan Wiggins | 7.3L | 11 | 53kg | $81 |
11 | 4 | SECRETS UNTOLD | Phillip Cox | Scott Seamer | 7.8L | 1 | 55.5kg | $41 |
12 | 8 | LUCKY DUBAI | Kim Craft | Eddie Wilkinson | 9.3L | 7 | 53kg | $41 |
13 | 1 | PEPPERWOOD | Liam Birchley | Chris Whiteley | 12.3L | 13 | 57.5kg | $15 |
14 | 14 | YUMMY (NZ) | Harold Norman | Ms Ashlee Mundy | 29.3L | 5 | 53kg | $201 |