Sutton Grange horseman Brent Stanley provided popular Goldfields hoop John Keating with a welcome-back winner at just his third ride back from injury last Saturday.
The Echuca meeting was the 47-year-old’s first meeting back in the saddle after a race fall in April left him with broken T4 and T7 vertebrae among other injuries.
Stanley’s flashy grey Battleborn was sent out a $6.50 hope and it was an easy watch for his backers as the five-year-old led from start to finish, clocking his second win from 15 starts.
Keating was back riding on Tuesday at Wangaratta.
Last weekend’s winner was a reward for the jockey’s regular trips to Sutton Grange to ride trackwork in addition to his Bendigo duties, mainly with Shaun Dwyer and Adam O’Neill.
Crown pleases
Shane Fliedner’s Thousand Guineas dream appears on track after St Edward’s Crown put in a pleasing effort to finish fifth in last Saturday’s Cap D’Antibes Stakes.
Dropping back to 1100 metres after resuming over 1200 metres in the Atlantic Jewel Stakes, the daughter of Epaulette was beaten for early speed but closed strongly out wide to finish within 1½ lengths of Wayupinthesky.
St Edward’s Crown shortened to $26 with corporates for the Thousand Guineas following Saturday’s performance.
Her most likely path is via the Thousand Guineas Prelude on September 29.
Miss on track for Moir
Miss Leonidas had a tune-up under John Keating at the Bendigo jumpouts on Tuesday, ahead of next Friday night’s $1 million Moir Stakes at The Valley.
Unsurprisingly the mare showed an abundance of speed to lead from start to finish on Tuesday, winning her 800-metre heat by six lengths in 47.68, the fastest time of the morning.
The speed is sure to be genuine next Friday over 1000 metres with Nature Strip engaged to start. Dwyer’s mare is $26 in early markets.
All 17 jumpout replays can be found at country.racing.com/bendigo/training/jumpouts
Black-bookers
These two Goldfields-trained gallopers look to be tracking the right way and may pay to follow in coming weeks.
• Single Hand: All the talk from the race may have been around Tavidance but Nick Smart’s gelding was first up from a nine-month berak and put in a big effort over 1600 metres fresh.
• Queen Guinevere: Camelot mare of Shane Fliedner’s who has put in two closing efforts at shorter trips and is now ready to win over 1600 metres and beyond.