Sale-trained veteran gelding Stanborough showed there is still some sparkle left in the old legs by taking out the inaugural running of the richest picnic race in Australia, the $20,000 Mansfield Diamond over 1200m.
Modelled on The Everest concept, and sponsored by Purdeys Jewellers, 10 slot holders were nominated by either their trainer or owner, with the only qualifying condition being that a runner must have started at least twice in the current picnic season.
With a win and a placing at Woolamai to his name, the eleven-year-old Stanborough snuck into the open handicap and owing to his consistent form at the professionals, was tasked with a hefty impost of 71kg.
Claiming apprentice Tim Grace’s two-kilo allowance went some way to making the task easier, and Stanborough was sent out a well-supported $3.30 favourite.
A well-judged ride by Grace, which saw the improving young rider allow Stanborough to settle worse than midfield with a solid tempo on up front, enabled the gelding to join in strongly upon straightening, before the pair ran away for a comfortable win.
Stanborough had a length-and-a-quarter to spare on the line from the consistent Major Paterson ($6), who now hasn’t missed a place in six runs this time in work. The victory was Stanborough’s 14th from 97 starts with the grey-beard’s earnings sitting at a tick under $200,000.
The celebrations did not cease for Grace, as he later teamed up with his father and Wangaratta trainer Timothy to claim the Hygain Mansfield Cup over 1600m.
In what was another superbly judged ride by Grace junior, he allowed five-year-old mare Miss Vonlozzi ($4.60) to balance up at the rear as the field chopped and changed up ahead.
Taking off deep at the 600m, the pair charged around the outside of their nine rivals, keeping the long, sustained run going and racing away for a commanding four-and-three-quarter lengths win.
The tough mare has had at least two starts in every month since October of last year, racking up 17 trips to the races in that time.
Quinella turns heads
Pakenham trainer Dianne Clover saddled up two runners in the fifth race on the card, the Alliance Group Trophy Handicap over 1600m – and came away with the quinella.
Keen form students would have been scratching their heads at the price discrepancy between the two stablemates. Seven-year-old mare Heaven’s Reject went into Saturday’s event with one win to her name from 20 starts – that win coming over 1200m – and she went to the post as a well-supported third favourite at $6.50.
The younger of the pair, five-year-old mare She’s a Headturner, was a three-time winner (all of which had come over Saturday’s trip of 1600m). She went to the post as one of the outsiders at $15, and in the end, it was a well-executed ride from Maddison Morris on the roughie that may have made all the difference.
The duo stalked their stable companion for much of the run, with only a half-length separating the pair on the line.
Cooper two clear, three to go
The recent run of success for Bundalaguah trainer Sharyn Trolove continued, with her Reward for Effort gelding Reward the Misses ($4) clearing right out for a dominant win in the first race at Mansfield.
Despite only having registered the one win from 21 starts prior, the four-year-old had been mixing it in stronger races at the professionals, which would have explained why he jumped as the second elect for the 1100m contest.
Premiership-leader Shaun Cooper positioned Reward the Misses at the rear of the field, before picking his way through them prior to the turn. Joining in strongly on straightening, Reward the Misses bolted clear over the last 200m and won by a widening 3¾ lengths.
Cooper’s two winners on the program took his season’s tally to 26, two ahead of Courtney Pace.
With both riders in form and only three meetings left of the current season, it looks like this one will go right down to the wire.