By Craig Kerry
Warwick Farm trainer Joe Pride was unsure of a next target for In Flight after her gritty Bob Charley AO Stakes victory on Saturday, but he is certain she will be better again next year.
In Flight, a $2.35 Sportsbet favourite, had it all to do in the final furlong to catch Kris Lees-trained Brudenell in the listed 1100m race at Randwick, and she dug deep under Jay Ford to win by a long head and kick off a treble for Pride.
Jay Ford, right, drives In Flight to victory over Brudenell in the Bob Charley AO Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.Credit: Getty Images
The effort delivered back-to-back listed victories for the four-year-old Flying Artie mare, which won the Bright Shadow last start at Doomben.
“She ended up a touch further back than what I was hoping for, but coming back off a heavy track win in Brisbane, it’s a pretty fair effort that,” Pride said.
“She had a lot to do at the 200 and she got the job done. She’s a real fighter.
“It’s tough at this time of year. If she could run seven furlongs, there would be a few more options, but we don’t know about that yet.
“She’s going to keep getting better with age. This time next year, she will be a better horse again. She’s a good, tough mare.”
Out of mare Waveline, In Flight is called Ola – the Spanish word for wave – around the stables.
“I love her,” Pride said.
“She’s beautiful. I wouldn’t say she’s a sweet filly. She’s a tart at times, but she’s got all the attributes a good mare needs.”
Adam Hyeronimus then rode a double for Pride, taking Headley Grange ($3.50) through a gap late before taking the inside path on Storm The Ramparts ($3.60) in the last. It was a seventh city-level double in the past five weeks for Hyeronimus.
Colt joins trio’s spring assault
Hidden Motive added to the spring excitement of the Private Harry team of Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle, Kurrinda Bloodstock and jockey Ash Morgan when he held on with a lucky bob of the head at Randwick on Saturday.
The Capitalist colt, an odds-on favourite, backed up a dominant maiden win at Hawkesbury to beat fast-finishing Kujenga by a nose in the two-year-old 1100m race to open the meeting.
Kurrinda Bloodstock director Sean Driver said Hidden Motive, which had mild sesamoiditis as a $120,000 yearling buy, would go to his farm for two weeks before returning to work with the Coolmore Stud Stakes on November 1 as the target.
Driver said Hidden Motive was a “four or five lengths better horse” with more suitable conditions.
Ashley Morgan (centre) rides Hidden Motive to victory on Saturday.Credit: Getty Images
“He overraced, he got pestered in front and did a fair bit of work. He’ll improve a lot,” Driver said.
“Wait until you see him on top of the ground. At home, what he’s shown us, he’s absolutely electric.”
Private Harry, meanwhile, has returned to Doyle’s stables to work towards the $20 million The Everest in October.
The unbeaten colt is the top contender in betting to favourite Ka Ying Rising, which was confirmed as a starter this week after a slot lease deal between the Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Australian Turf Club.
Driver said Private Harry had put on between 65 and 80 kilograms of “all muscle” during his spell.
“He’s grown probably an inch and a half, but he’s only three and he still had that bit of growing to do,” Driver said.
“He looks outstanding. I’m excited. All I’ll say is they are going to have to be good to beat him.”
Driver said Private Harry would have two trials, probably at Newcastle then in Sydney, before runs in The Shorts and Premiere Stakes to prepare for The Everest.
Hellfire Express made it an early double for Doyle and Morgan, leading all the way to win the Midway Handicap comfortably at $16.
Morgan turned that into a first city treble when taking Matthew Smith-trained Millie De Lune ($8) to victory in the 2000m benchmark 72 handicap.
The Newcastle-based Welshman, enjoying a breakout year in town, put Millie De Lune in a perfect spot behind the leaders before she swept past favourite Hurstville Zagreb for a one and a quarter-length win.
Smith praised the “super” ride, saying Morgan won the race in the first 100 metres.
The trainer made special mention of Millie De Lune part-owner Noel Surawski, who died during the week at the age of 90.
Group 1 glory for NSW stables
While it was a rare quiet day for the Chris Waller stable at Randwick, the champion Sydney trainer celebrated a national record 19th group 1 win of the season when Joliestar stormed home to nab Zarastro on the line and claim the Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm.
Waller had equalled his own record before the win, which also took premier jockey James McDonald to a career-best 15th group 1 Australian victory of the season.
Newcastle trainer Kris Lees, a winner at Randwick with Loch Eagle, claimed his third Queensland Oaks when You Wahng kicked back late under Tommy Berry to beat Pinito.
Randwick trainer John O’Shea and Tom Charlton then landed the Queensland Derby quinella with Maison Louis and King Of Thunder.
Loy strikes on Bengal
Luke Pepper-trained Bengal put forward an early case for a Kosciuszko slot thanks to a strong finish and clever ride from Brodie Loy, who scored his first win in Sydney in three years.
Brodie Loy and Bengal (left) win on Saturday.Credit: Getty Images
Bengal ($7), a $42,500 buy online from the Chris Waller yard last November, came with an inside run in the Highway Handicap to narrowly beat favourite Shropshire Lad.
“We earmarked him as a Kosciuszko sort of horse, if he kept improving, and we thought this was good place to kick him off and get his profile out there,” Pepper said.
Loy was grateful for the chance on Bengal, which he said was “a very nice horse with good improvement to come”.
“Luke’s been one of my very good mates for a very long time and for him to trust me on some of these horses is very nice,” Loy said.
“The last couple of years, I’ve only ridden here once a couple of weeks and here today, so I don’t come here often, so it’s nice to get a win.”
