Winning Post - Goldfields: Sigh of relief as Steel seals deal

Goldfields: Sigh of relief as Steel seals deal

By Ben Sporle, September 19, 2017 - 12:29 PM

Following 14 starts for six minor placings, trainer Rod Symons would have left Tuesday’s meeting at Wangaratta relieved after Steel Caps broke through with Jamie Mott in the saddle.

The four-year-old provided the first leg of a race-to-race double for Mott, who allowed the son of Hard Spun to find his feet early in the 2000-metre journey.

With only a handful of gallopers behind him on straightening, the runs presented for a comfortable three-quarter-length victory at odds of $4.40 over race favourite Best Man.

“Best Man went around me at the 600 metres when I was stuck in traffic and put a few lengths on me but once I got into the clear he felt good underneath me and was strong late,” Mott told Racing.com.

Although Steel Caps was disappointing at his only test beyond 2000 metres, Tuesday’s win indicated the gelding could be effective over longer journeys.

It was the 11th run of the campaign for Steel Caps, who has only finished out of the weigh in stalls four times in 14 starts.

Bred by Symons from an unraced Rainbow Quest mare, Steel Caps has now taken his career earnings to $47,480.

Toby so close

A long trek to Dubbo last Sunday almost paid off big-time for Bendigo-based picnic hoop Toby Lake when he finished second in the $50,000 Picnic Championship Final aboard the Scott Spackman-trained Black Fusion.

Invited to contest the lucrative amateurs-only event, Lake rode a patient race aboard the eight-year-old $12 pop, who was beaten a half-length by the Rodney Robb-trained Security Code.

“It was a great experience, which the Dubbo Turf Club must take credit for,” Lake said. “My horse was turned out in fantastic order and had a lovely run but we were just beaten by a better horse on the day.

Lake added that he was raring to go for the Victorian picnic season, which starts at Alexandra on Cox Plate day (October 28).

“I can’t wait — I had issues making light weights last season but my weight couldn’t be better so fingers crossed for a successful season,” Lake told Winning Post.

Lake, 20, has ridden 31 winners.

Screen time

The Bendigo Jockey Club flicked the switch on the track’s new 59-square-metre big screen at the races last Thursday.

The $320,000 investment will be a welcomed by patrons in the lead-up to the clubs two biggest race days — Beach Party Raceday (October 21) and Jayco Bendigo Cup Day (November 1).

Darren Weir took the training honours on last weeks program with a double. VRC Oaks favourite Anchor Bid returned over 1600 metres with a gritty win while Leather’n’lace kept her unbeaten record intact.

Anthony Freedman’s gelding Tavistock Abbey also created plenty of interest, carrying the Cox Plate-winning silks of Super Impose to victory.

The locally trained Diamond Oasis from the Patrick Starr stable completed an exhibition gallop between races. The son of Lonhro hasn’t been sighted since finishing fifth on his stable debut on May 6.

Racing returns to Bendigo on Thursday September 28.

Ready to rock

Last week’s Wodonga trials suggested a successful few months could be in store for Bendigo trainer Shaun Dwyer, who sent six horses to the trials and won three heats.

Arguably, Dwyer would have been most impressed with one of his horses that didn’t win. The stable’s promising mare Savaju ran a neck second to talented Wodonga four-year-old Cash Crisis in the quickest heat of the morning.

The Dwyer-trained Miss Leonidas caught the eye defeating Elvstroem Classic winner River Jewel in slick time while Brooke Sweeney won later heats on the unraced Hussh Baby and the lightly raced Skillriva (runner-up at her only start).

All four mentioned could pay to follow this spring.

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