It was a family celebration for the Kilmore-based Thompsons when Test a Day, sent out a $3.50 equal favourite, scored at Werribee last Saturday.
The five-year-old daughter of Testafiable and Satdies ’n’ Sundies, ridden by promising apprentice Lachlan King, was most impressive in taking the Happy Birthday Anita Morris 0-58 Handicap (2000m).
The mare defeated $21 pop Treicheln by three-quarters of a length with the Mick Sell-trained Treasure Map ($4.80) a further long head away third.
Bred and part-owned by Norm Thompson and wife Faye, the mare is trained by their daughter Jody and was strapped by her son Ash.
Jody said the mare had been missing the start at recent runs but rectified that on Saturday.
“She was able to possie up in the run with Lachie riding her very well,” she said.
“She did a good job as it was only her third run this prep and it was over 2000 (metres). She’s very tough and you can do anything with her.
Test a Day has now won three races with five minor placings from her 21 starts.
Age shall not weary him
The Barry Goodwin-trained rising 11-year-old Diamondcowboy is approaching his 100th start but doesn’t appear to be slowing down in the nervous 90s.
At start 93 and defying a betting drift from $3.80 to $4.60, Diamondcowboy was victorious on his home track at Seymour last Thursday in the Mitchelton Wines BM58 Handicap (1600m).
Ridden by the in-form apprentice Liam Riordan and taking advantage of his two-kilo claim, Diamondcowboy defeated Racing Writer ($4.40) by a short head with Eye Contact ($9.50) a further three lengths away third. Lee and Shannon Hope-trained $2.45 favourite Sneferu finished fourth.
“Liam’s been nagging me for weeks to ride this horse — ‘He needs a claim, he needs a claim,’” said Reece Goodwin, the trainer’s son.
“He’s been running with 61 (kilos). We pulled the claim off and put the claimer on and got the job done.
“In his last six starts he had five placings and the other one was a fourth so he’s been a model of consistency and it’s good to get the winner for Liam — he really deserves it.”
Raced by the Goodwins, the gelding has now won 11 races with 28 minor placings.
Ponbar, finally
In the first of eight at the Seymour meeting, Kyneton trainer Mick Sell got Ponbar Finale ($8) over the line for the first time, at his 28th start.
The Shinzig four-year-old gelding, ridden by cross-country hoop Chris Brown, had no luck throughout the run, but still outstayed the opposition to take out the $20,000 Bar Landy Restaurant Maiden Highweight Plate (2000m).
The gelding defeated Golly Olly ($5) by 1½ lengths with The Kreykels ($5.50) a further 3¾ lengths away third.
“He’s done about 40 ‘kays’ this time in and it is nice to get a winner for the owners, for they are great people,” Sell told Racing.com.
“It was a very sloppy race but he obviously got there at the right time.”
The gelding, who has indeed covered 38.9km in races since resuming last August, was bred by popular long-time owner, Ken Ponton and is raced by him and a number of stable clients. They received a bonus with the win, as the gelding is Super VOBIS-qualified.
Ponbar Finale had five minor placings prior to his win.