Aussie Made Lombo cuises past Beach Melody in last week's opening Vicbred fillies' semi final
No trainer has a stronger hand in tonight’s Peter Sadler Transport Vicbred Super Series 2YO Fillies Final than Jayne Davies.
The Clyde trainer dominated last week’s semi finals, winning the first with blueblood Aussie Made Lombo before strengthening her hand with the under-rated Passions Promise in semi number two.
The latter ran down pre-series favourite Lively Moth in a 27.8-second final quarter to give Davies something to consider regarding who was her better chance in the $100,000 Group 1 final at Melton’s Tabcorp Park.
But the barrier draw for the 2240-metre decider made that decision for her.
Aussie Made Lombo ensured she would be the stable’s pick – and therefore stable reinsman Chris Alford’s drive – when she drew gate four with Passions Promise among the back-row starters in barrier 11.
“Barrier four’s certainly better than 11, that’s for sure,” Davies said. “It’s a nice change for Aussie Made, she hasn’t drawn very well in her other feature races.
“Passions Promise will need a bit of luck from back there, but the way she’ll have to be driven is going to suit her and if the pace is on you never know.”
It has been a gradual rise to prominence for Passions Promise. The daughter of Modern Art has won four of her five starts with her only failure being when she suffered an atrial fibrillation in the Sapling Stakes four runs ago.
“She’s done a fantastic job really,” Davies said of the filly who will be driven by Nathan Jack. “She’s only had the five starts and she had an excuse when she got beaten.
“She’s done a big job to come back and win her only three starts back since then. It didn’t really surprise me that she beat the other one last week because she had such a nice run and I know she’s quite a nice filly.”
The fact Davies made comparisons between Aussie Made Lombo and her mother, Tailamade Lombo, highlights the opinion she has of the Bathurst Gold Tiara champion and Seymour Nursery Pace winner.
Tailamade Lombo is the only Australian female to crack $1 million in stakes, finishing with 49 wins from 110 starts and $1,354,978 in stakes.
“She’s all class,” Davies said. “She’s just got stronger and stronger as time’s gone on, just like her mother did actually.
“Her constitution is unbelievable. She’ll come home after a run and, it won’t matter how hard a run she’s had, she’ll go straight to the feed bin and in the morning the bowl’s shiny. I’ve never had a horse that does as well as her.”
Aussie Made Lombo was a convincing 1:59.9 winner over Beach Melody in her semi. Beach Melody remains a chance of turning the tables after drawing gate two, while the other top hope, Lively Moth, is inside the back row in eight.
Aussie Made Lombo is the $2 favourite with TAB Sportsbet, clear of Beach Melody ($3.70), Lively Moth ($3.80) and Passions Promise ($8) in the event to be run at 9.42pm.
