Three Kyneton trainers came away with winners from their hometown nine-event race meeting on Friday.
George Osborne set the ball rolling for the locals when second starter Young Cliffy led throughout in the 1200m Jillian Goudge Maiden Plate, Eddie Bourke produced outsider Champagne Pearl for her first win since Australia Day 2018, and Mick Sell’s topweight Magnesprit fought on strongly to just hold on in a five-horse blanket finish.
Bendigo-based apprentice Jessie Philpot took the day’s riding honours, utilising a 3kg claim and astute ground-saving rides on Champagne Pearl and Magnesprit to land a double.
Due to the strict conditions introduced for race meetings in Victoria during the coronavirus pandemic, the Kyneton meeting was held under the ‘licensed persons only’ in attendance stipulation.
Even owners were precluded from attending, having to settle with finding some means of watching the live television coverage.
Track conditions were good, and Osborne — the biggest trainer in the district — had nine runners, nominating in advance five-year-old mare Bella as his best prospect for the day.
Young Cliffy, a three-year-old gelding by Canford Cliffs from Dazzling Rubi, had shown good ability in jumps outs and trackwork, but only finished eighth on debut at Swan Hill on March 30.
Raced by Langdon Thoroughbred Racing, Young Cliffy started at double figure odds, and jockey Jarrod Fry made good use of an inside barrier to go to the front.
He held on to win by half a length from the fast-finishing Who Shot The Sheriff, with Osborne observing he had raced truly and benefited from being on his home track.
Having several gallopers with the Osborne stable for the past few years, Young Cliffy’s part-owner Adam Langdon said he was thrilled to be able to breed Young Cliffy at the family’s stud on the Woodend-Tylden Road, and see him win so early in his career.
NEVER LOST FAITH …
Eddie Bourke walked his two runners Clingstone Peach and Champagne Pearl to the track from nearby stables, and saw the former run a brave race to finish second after leading in a 1450m Maiden.
They are the only gallopers hobby trainer Bourke has in work, and he and wife Mary, a public servant, breed and own their own thoroughbreds at their 100-acre property at South Kyneton.
Their six-year-old mare Champagne Pearl started at $31 in the Mary Tehan Fillies & Mares BM58 Handicap over 1100m, but Bourke gave her a chance after a close fourth at Werribee on a heavy track at her previous run.
The mare’s two previous wins were at Hanging Rock on New Year’s Day in the Midland Express Maiden in 2018, and on the same track on Australia Day the same year.
Bourke said he had never lost faith in the galloper, and was thrilled when Philpot positioned her on the rails in front; into the straight several gallopers made strong runs, but Champagne Pearl knuckled down on the fence and scored by half a length from Bella, who ran on well for a Kyneton quinella.
Philpot received full marks for a heady ride, and Bourke said the mare – with just over $38,000 in earnings from 22 starts – would probably run in similar races before heading for the breeding barn.
Like their other horses, the mare will have a permanent home and be well looked after on the Eddmar Lodge property.
NEW IN SELL STABLE
Magnuspirit was only having his second start for the Sell stable, and the seven-year-old made it six wins from 30 starts and took his stakes to $106,700.
Starting at $5, Magnuspirit raced near the lead and Philpot saved ground in the run and prevailed by 0.2 lengths over Pill Box in a tight finish in the 1200m BM58 event.
Sell was quick to praise his rider, and thank the owners for giving him an opportunity with the seven-year-old galloper.
Sutton Grange trainer Brent Stanley was pleased with Mount Mitty’s all the way victory in a 1200m BM58 event.
Ridden by Brad Rawiller, three-year-old Mount Mitty was having his second start for Stanley, and won by 1.3 lengths.
Racing is one of the very few sports in Australia continuing under strict surveillance during the pandemic.
IMPRESSIVE AT ARARAT
George Osborne’s six-year-old mare Mary’s Pride impressed with a strong win at Ararat on Saturday.
Riding a patient race at the rear of the field over 1100m, apprentice Will Price managed to thread his way through near the inside in the straight.
Mary’s Pride edged out Marook, in the Stanley stable, in the last few strides.
