Seymour co-trainer Shannon Hope will decide in the next couple of days whether star mare Fenway will tackle this month’s $3 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2000m).
The four-year-old daughter of High Chapparal, trained by Hope and father Lee, was most impressive in taking out the $200,000 Group 2 StrathAyr Track Stocks Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley last Friday night.
Solidly backed ($8.50-$6.50), Fenway was ridden by the co-trainers’ stepson and stepbrother, Blake Shinn, who gave the mare a lovely run in transit to wear down $2.80 favourite May’s Dream and win by three-quarters of a length with Scratchy Bottom ($19) powering home in third place.
“If we go to the Cox Plate we’re not going there to make up the numbers,” Shannon said.
“She’s won a Group 1 over that distance and now won on the track.
“The alternative is the Group 3 David Jones Cup on Caulfield Cup day and then the Mackinnon on Derby day.
“The Mackinnon will be her last run for both options for this prep then we’ll put her out for the autumn,” he said.
For Shinn, who was indentured to Lee Hope in Kilmore, Friday night’s win was a big thrill.
“It gave me one of my biggest thrills winning on this horse for my family at the autumn carnival in Sydney,” he said. “It’s a credit to my family — they’re great trainers and it’s great to be winning some big races with a horse like this.”
The Hopes have group winners Sabatini and Pittsburgh Flyer scheduled to start in the coming weeks.
Fenway, raced by Alpara Lodge, has now had nine starts for three wins, two minor placings  and $489,100.
’Blast back to back
Seymour trainer Danny Penna made it back-to-back wins with smart galloper Neuroblast ($10) at last Saturday’s Gunbower Cup meeting.
Coming off an all-the-way maiden win at Albury last month, the four-year-old again led all the way in the Carole Hinchliffe & Jai Welch Memorial BM64 Handicap (1100m).
The win was an emotional one as the race commemorates popular Echuca man Jai Welch, who died this year as a result of a skiing accident. Jai’s  mother, Jacqui, is a part-owner of the gelding.
Additionally, Penna manages Mangalore Park Stud, owned by Steve Hinchliffe, whose sister Carole passed away recently. She was also remembered in the memorial race.
Hinchliffe purchased the gelding, a half-brother to Murphy’s Blu Boy, at an all-aged sale for a bargain price of $1250.
“It was certainly a touching win for everyone,” Penna said.
“It was very hot up at Gunbower so we’ll give him a few weeks to get over the run.
“Unfortunately he’s gone to a Rating 64 so he’s going to be hard to place at this time of the year,” he said.
The gelding was having only his third start. Jason Benbow was the winning rider.
More in store for Celestial
Seymour-trained Celestial Century last won at the professionals at Wyong nearly four years ago, when trained by David Pfieffer.
He broke that drought at Echuca on Monday and, judging by the turn of foot he showed, the Elusive Quality seven-year-old gelding won’t have to wait long before another win.
Sent out a $2.70 favourite, Celestial Century came from the rear of the field to storm away with the Sportsbet Watch Live Racing 0-58 Handicap (1000m).
The second leg of a riding treble for Brad Rawiller, Celestial Century defeated Viva La Dance ($11) by a short head, with Sudden Rush ($10) a further 2¾ lengths away third.
Now owned by trainer Barry Goodwin and his wife, the gelding has had a few homes in his 33-start career including Hong Kong. Monday’s win was his fifth.      
Murtoa winners
Kilmore trainer Jody Thompson saddled up Mission Finder ($5 equal favourite) for a narrow win at Murtoa’s Cup meeting on Saturday.
The eight-year-old gelded son of Ne Coupez Pas and Attention Baby took out the $20,000 Wimmera Aquatrail 0-58 Handicap (1600m) under Jacob Rule.
The gelding is raced by the trainer, her mother, Faye Thompson, and her aunt Aileen McPherson. He has now won seven races with nine minor placings from 41 starts.
The previous race on the Murtoa Cup card was taken out by Kyneton trainer Mick Sell’s Treasure Map ($3.70 favourite).
The Publishing five-year-old gelding gave jockey Dean Yendall his third winner for the day, in taking out the Rednic Rock 0-58 Handicap (2050m).
The gelding defeated Tempest Rock ($12) by ¾-length with The Golden Pig ($7) a similar margin away third.
The win was the gelding’s third with 11 minor placings from 31 starts.

Pics by SLICKPIX (03 9354 5754).
Connections of Neuroblast