Central Victoria: Luke likes what he sees in Sierra
By Paul Egan, March 20, 2018 - 10:05 AM

Romsey/Caulfield trainer Luke Oliver looks to have apromising stayer on his hands in High Sierra, who completed back-to-back wins at Moonee Valley last Friday night.
Sent out at $8.50 off a Terang maiden win earlier in the month, the New Zealand-bred Redwood four-year-old, ridden by Daniel Moor, was most impressive in taking out the $50,000 Ladbrokes Friday Night Lights Handicap (2040m), defeating Doogans Rise ($6.50) by 2½ lengths.
Oliver was full of praise for Moor’s riding as High Sierra hit the front before the turn and pulled away from her opposition.
“The mare shows real staying potential as it was her first time over the distance,” he said.
Purchased for $NZ25,000 by Grand Syndicates at the 2015 New Zealand Bloodstock Festival yearling sale, High Sierra now has two wins and a minor placing from only five starts, already earning $44,330 in prizemoney. 
Hopes on a high
Last Sunday’s McDonalds Euroa Cup (1406m) at Benalla proved a family affair for Seymour’s Hopes, with O’Lonhro Bay ($2.90) winning narrowly.
The six-year-old O’Lonhro gelding is raced by Dee Hope, co-trained by her husband, Shannon, and father-in-law, Lee, and was ridden by apprentice Tahlia Hope (daughter of Shannon). Strapping duties were carried out by Dee Hope.
The gelding got the judge’s nod by a short half-head iver $2.25 favourite Lord Medley.
O’Lonhro Bay has now won three races for the Hopes with four minor placings from 17 starts.
Rhyola digs deep
The Peter Morgan-trained Rhyola ($3.30 favourite) was a gutsy winner earlier on the Euroa Cup program.
The Lope de Vega four-year-old gelding led all the way in the Steph Ryan BM58 Handicap (1406m), defeating Great Bay ($21) by a short head with All Come True ($6.50) a head away third.
The win was in-form jockey Daniel Moor’s second for the day.
Morgan bought Rhyola for $145,000 at the 2015 Magic Millions Adelaide yearling sale. He races him in partnership with wife Judy and long-time stable client Barry James.
Rhyola now has two wins and two minor placings from 11 starts, earnng $29,235.
Overdue Reward
Earlier at Benalla on Sunday, the Luke Oliver/Daniel Moor combination won with Paris Reward ($3.90).
The Reward For Effort four-year-old mare scored a well earned win in the Lindsay Park Racing Maiden Plate (1406m). 
The mare defeated Moshvago ($7) by a long neck with Star of Serena ($5.50) a similar margin away third.
A $60,000 purchase at the 2015 Inglis Premier yearling sale, the honest mare broke through at start number 15, coming off a third, a fifth and two fourths.
She has earned $32,815.

Salty all the way
One jumpout was all it needed for the George Osborne-trained Salty Kisses ($3.50) to lead all the way at Ballarat on Tuesday.
First-up since October last year, the three-year-old daughter of Duporth and Maktima, was most impressive, and beautifully rated by Linda Meech, in taking out the $25,000 City of Ballarat Maiden Plate (1000m).
The filly defeated $1.70 favourite, Lovewithouttragedy by three-quarters of a length with Lechter ($20) a further length away third.
Osborne said he Salty Kisses led in a jumpout two weeks ago with Meech aboard.
“I was very happy when she found the lead without any pressure today.
“There’s plenty of speed in the family so we’ll always ride her that way,” he said.
Part-owned by Osborne along with a number of stable clients, Salty Kisses had a second and a fourth placing prior to Tuesday’s win.

 


 

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