Gippsland: Diggers remembered as Rose blooms
By Damien Donohue, April 25, 2018 - 6:49 AM

Racegoers at Bairnsdale last Saturday were treated to a magnificent parade by the 13th Gippsland Light Horse as part of the club’s Anzac Appeal meeting, as well as an impressive performance by the feature winner.
The benchmark 64 Villers Bretonneux Cup (1200m), marking the 100th anniversary of the French battle where 2473 Australians were killed, wounded or captured, was won in impressive style by speedy filly Raspberry Rose, trained by Richard Laming and ridden by Jessica Payne. 
The three-year-old Denman filly has won three of her four starts and looks a coming city winner. 
Dominant Genie, trained at Moe by Paul and Tracey Templeton, was no match for the winner but battled on strongly first up for second, with the Cranbourne-trained Spirit or Lager running third.
In-form Mornington based apprentice Jessica Eaton took riding honours for the day with a winning double. 
Eaton who has ridden midweek city winners in Perth and Melbourne in recent weeks, saluted on Hysterics for Cranbourne trainer Francis Finnegan and Up the Stairs for Mornington-based John McArdle.
The Bairnsdale Racing Club’s next meeting is its Mother’s Day fixture on May 13,  highlighted by the running of the 2018 Bulmer Farms Lindenow Cup.
Buying up big
Several Gippsland trainers were active at last Sunday’s Inglis VOBIS Gold sale, widely regarded as one of the best value yearling sales on the calendar.
Moe-based Peter Gelagotis Racing joined forces with stable client Anthony Panozzo to purchase the highest-priced horse ever sold at the VOBIS Gold sale. The Spirit of Boom colt from Moxie Doll, offered by Rosemont Stud, was the subject of a fierce bidding duel before selling for $120,000.
Racing manager Manny Gelagotis was delighted with the acquisition.
“The stallion is doing incredible things and he was the colt we wanted to take home.”
Gippsland businessman Brendan Blackshaw bought four lots to be syndicated and trained by his brother, in-form Shady Creek trainer Craig. 
Blackshaw bought four colts, two by Canford Cliffs (for $3500 and $10,000), one by Statue of Liberty ($6000) and one by Domesday ($4000).
Blackshaw did well at this sale in 2014, paying $1500 for Hazard Ahead, who’s earned his owners $117,608 so far.
One of the more interesting purchases was by Sale-based Sharyn Trolove Racing, a bay or brown filly by Canford Cliffs from the great producing mare Induct. 
The filly is a half-sister to Sunday Escape, an earner of $397,125 for the Sale stable of Andrew Murray. 
At his last start the speedster won over the Moonee Valley 955 metres, running the fastest time over that trip for the season and securing Murray a $50,000 bonus.
Dean Grass and Frankie Stockdale, who specialise in buying yearlings and preparing them for ready-to-run sales the following season, picked up likely types. 
Grass bought colts by Reward for Effort ($30,000) and Rubick ($55,000), Stockdale a Snitzel colt for $20,000.
Group 1-winning Kiwi trainer Jason Bridgman, now based at Pakenham, picked up a colt by Warhorse ($30,000) and a Zoustar filly ($12,000). 
Another Pakenham trainer, former champion jumps jockey Nick Harnett, went home with two nice colts — a Onemorenomore ($10,000) and a Puissance de Lune ($12,000).
Exciting times ahead.

 

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