Racing
All Eyes Turn To SA Group 1's After An Action Packed Clare Lindop Stakes Day
Top trainer Tom Dabernig and connections have to weigh up staying home and chasing a local feature or diving into the deep end with smart mare Shadhavar after her impressive win in the Listed Matrice Stakes at Morphettville on the weekend.
Shadhavar made it successive South Australian features following her Magic Millions win at Murray Bridge earlier in the month. Now, the Wangoom at Warrnambool during their three-day carnival is a potential target ahead of chasing Group 1 success back in Adelaide in the Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville on April 25.
"I think we'll hold a nomination (for the Sangster),'' assistant trainer Dara O'Meachair said post-race.
"(There are a) few other races around there. It's tempting to go for a Wangoom in your own backyard.
"It's even possible that we could see her back over here again, whether it's the Sangster or a Proud Miss.
"You won't need to talk her owner into it, we'll just let the dust settle and weigh things up as we get closer,'' he said.
Shadhavar was ridden confidently by Jacob Opperman and taken to the lead, where she was able to dictate before safely holding off a game Power Beau with Arkansaw Kid holding down third.
"She's a ripping mare, it's great to get a black type win with her,'' O'Meachair added.
"To get it (Stakes win) as an older mare in open (class) against the boys is a real feather in her cap,'' he said.
The powerful Lindsay Park stable has the Group 1 Australasian Oaks in their sights with Stung following a dominant win in the Listed Clare Lindop Stakes over the 1600m.
It was a perfect ride by Luke Currie, who had the filly just behind the speed before she broke clear once given her cue on straightening to record a 1.75 length win over a brave Oak Park Maddison.
"She's exciting,'' Currie said.
"She was quite dynamic, settled well and was never going to get beat. Her final furlong was strong.
"She looks very progressive,'' he said.
The multiple Group 1 winning rider was thrilled to win the race named after Clare Lindop, whom he competed against during her riding career.
"It's nice to ride a winner in (a race) named after Clare Lindop, I rode against her for years,'' Currie added.
"She was a great rider and great role model for all in and outside the industry,'' he said.
Exciting filly Never Ordinary will chase more local features after she showed versatility to come from off the speed to win the Listed Dequetteville Stakes for two-year-olds.
The Byron Cozamanis -trained youngster has now won two of her three starts, after connections were told the filly would never make it to the track.
"She's getting better all the time,'' Cozamanis said.
"The vets said she'd never race, it's an amazing story.
"I've had some nice horses, but she's right up there with them.
"She'll go to the Without Fear and then the Breeders, that's the plan at this stage,'' he said.
Never Ordinary was the second leg of a riding double for Rochelle Milnes, who partnered Signature Scent to an impressive win a tick over thirty minutes earlier for the Ciaron Maher stable.
She shared riding honours with Jake Toeroek,who scored aboard High On Sugar and Mostly For Show earlier in the day.
Garret Lynch and leading local trainer John Dunn and Krystal Bishop shared training honours at the final meeting of the Port Lincoln season on Sunday
Lynch, combining with apprentice Tala Hutchinson to win with The Last Dance and Sports Choice, while the Dunn/Bishop stable produced Setteveli (Rochelle Milnes) and Cullen Skink (Ashvin Goindasamy) to win.
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