The patience of Bendigo trainer Graham Donaldson and connections was rewarded at Yarra Valley last Saturday when Firm As a Rock broke her maiden status at her 22nd start.
There was some betting interest in the four-year-old ahead of last Saturday’s 1514-metre maiden, with Firm As A Rock nibbled in from $14 to start at $12.
And it was an eye-catching performance to say the least, with a barnstorming finish lifting the Your Song mare from last to first.
Having drawn a wide barrier, Robbie Downey let the mare drift back to the rear of the field. The race panned out well, with eventual runner-up Ponte Vecchio ($7) setting a strong tempo.
Firm As a Rock was under heavy riding from the 600 metres, with the leader giving a strong kick. To the Bendigo mare’s credit she never gave up the chase and was able to overhaul the leader in the concluding stages.
Ceardai’s cup
There was a satisfying result for Bendigo’s Brent Stanley and the Sona Thoroughbreds team at Benalla last Sunday, with stable stalwart Ceardai winning in bleak conditions.
The Euroa Cup, at 0-58 level over 2040 metres, provided the eight-year-old’s sixth career victory at his 40th start, which was his 34th with Stanley. (Ceardai began his racing life with six unplaced runs in New Zealand.)
Apprentice Jett Stanley kept up his strong form, riding the winner for his father. Jett rode four winners at a recent Wangaratta meeting and had his first ride at Flemington at the recent Rapid Racing meeting.
Ridden on speed as usual last Sunday, Ceardai ploughed through the heavy 8 conditions to win by a dominant 2-3/4-length margin.
Grand sale
Shane Fliedner has been active at the recent Inglis Digital online sales, looking to add quality tried horses to his Bendigo stable.
Most recently the team bid successfully on five-year-old gelding Grand Pope (formerly with Nick Ryan), acquiring the horse for $60,000.
The stable is hoping the lightly raced Flemington winner can live up to his immense early promise and can build on his current handicap rating of 65.
In other stable news, Hi Stranger is back in work after a summer spell. He will look to target country features and city races through the autumn carnival.