By Neil Evans
A talented and still progressing filly is set to make her provincial breakthrough when she tackles the feature race at Monday’s Beaumont meeting in Newcastle.
Pensativa, from the Lou Mary stable at Scone, claimed her second win three weeks back when careering away to win a class 2 handicap at Gunnedah.
Pensativa is primed to break through at Newcastle on Monday.Credit: Getty Images
That victory represented an important bounce-back for the daughter of group 1 winner Impending after everything went wrong as a short-priced favourite at Muswellbrook the start before.
Ridden a long way back, Pensativa seemingly resented a heavy-rated surface that performed poorly and was very chopped up.
Back on firm ground at Gunnedah, she was ridden closer and kept out of trouble, sweeping away over the final part and easily running the quickest time in three races over 1300m.
It all confirmed Pensativa’s overwhelming preference for dry tracks having won two from four, yet she’s still to run a place from three starts on any rain-affected ground.
Ahead of this latest challenge in a benchmark 66 handicap over 1350m, the Beaumont surface was rated a Good 4 in the lead-up, although a late Monday storm is being forecasted so connections and punters alike will be watching the clock all the way to the jump.
Either way, there’ll be pressure on the filly’s new jockey, Irish-born Ronan Whelan, who takes over from Jake Pracey-Holmes.
Now 32, Whelan won a group 1 at The Curragh back in late 2018, and during his time across Ireland twice won four races on the same program.
Pensativa was locked in an early battle for favouritism around the $3.00 mark with four-year-old Merchant Empire, who was out to bounce back from a disappointing run first-up in a Class 1 on the Newcastle course proper.
Pensativa could well be part of another lucrative day for Scone stables.
The Brett Cavanough yard brings back talented three-year-old Haze off a month-long break in a maiden handicap over 1350m, dropping back sharply in trip from an unplaced CL1 effort over 1900m.
And Scott Singleton will be confident his progressive mare Kimberley Moon can claim a third win from just five starts when she tackles a benchmark 58 handicap for fillies and mares over 1150m.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
Randwick victory comes at price for Schofield
Craig Kerry
Chad Schofield will miss the ride on Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) winner Public Attention in the Hobartville Stakes after copping a careless riding suspension in the last at Randwick on Saturday.
Schofield rode Public Attention to victory for trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent jnr in the group 3 for three-year-olds. Price said post-race that the Written Tycoon colt would race again in the group 2 Hobartville (1400m) at Rosehill on February 22 before targeting the group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m).
Schofield, though, will be suspended from February 16-26 after pleading guilty to careless riding on the John Thompson-trained Bundeena in the last when running fourth. Bundeena shifted in approaching the 200m mark, sparking a chain reaction of interference. Schofield will also miss the ride on Thompson’s Bel Merci in the Silver Slipper on February 22.
Sherry cops spell for careless riding
Craig Kerry
Tom Sherry was also suspended for careless riding. His charge came from the fourth race aboard Emmadella and he was outed from Monday to February 21. Golden Slipper 2024 champion Lady Of Camelot is set to return to Sydney racing in the group 2 Light Fingers (1200m) at Randwick this Saturday before a step up to 1400m in the group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m).
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained star was second to Private Harry in the inaugural $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight slot race for three-year-olds over 1100m on the Gold Coast on January 4.
That followed on from a fourth in The Everest at Randwick then third in the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington, both over 1200m, to end her spring campaign.
She was second to Bjorn Baker-trained Dance To The Boom in a 900m trial last week at Rosehill and they are set to meet again in the Light Fingers for three-year-old fillies.
