Soho Tribeca in full flight at Tabcorp Park Melton tonight for Kim Prentice.
The final night of the 2017 Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series delivered three top-level triumphs for the Emma Stewart stable.
Stewart's triple Group 1 success also saw champion reinsman Gavin Lang pick up his 6000th career winner in the sulky, aboard Tell Me Tales in the three-year-old fillies' final, upsetting favourites Petacular and Miss Graceland.
Nostra Villa remained unbeaten winning the two-year-old fillies' big dance for Chris Alford before stablemate Poster Boy doubled up for the Puppet and Stewart combo with victory in the two-year-old final a race later.
Without You wired her rivals in the four-year-old final, Nathan Jack flying the Lauriston Bloodstock owned four-year-old off the arm from gate seven before staving off all comers at the finish for trainer Amanda Turnbull.
Jilliby Kung Fu is this year's three-year-old boys' champion for the Terang team of Marg Lee and Glen Craven. And West Australian raider Soho Tribeca overcame adversity to notch a stunning win for trainer-driver Kim Prentice in the four-year-old entires and geldings' final.
Below is a snapshot of what the winners had to say post-race
Race 1 – Greg Sugars on Hes Okey Dokey
“His manners before and during the race are really good now whereas he was a bit wayward early days. Keith’s (Cotchin) done a marvellous job to sort him out. He never runs a bad race. He’s been a bit fortunate in recent times and tonight was no exception.”
Race 2 – Zac Phillips on Four Ex Dan
“His first dip at free-for-all level last week and we were over the moon with his run. He chaired up and held off Maximan and It Is Billy. We were confident enough if we were aggressive early we could find the front and if he found the front he’d be a hard horse to get past.”
Race 3 – Chris Alford on Nostra Villa
“She just keeps getting better and better each week. Tonight was the first night she had not got to the front but she travelled really well. Nearly dropped in before the turn. Clayton said her last 50m would be her best.
“She was just travelling too well. She wasn’t off the bit. She stuck her head in front and didn’t know to run right away. She did enough and that was super.”
Race 3 – Anthony Curuana on Nostra Villa
“Amazing. I’m still pinching myself, I still can’t believe it.”
Race 4 – Chris Alford on Poster Boy
“Things didn’t pan out exactly like we would have liked but he was able to get a good trail, poke around and get another good trail, had to come out a bit earlier than I would have liked but he was really good.
“I didn’t know if I’d be able to lead, as soon as the gate left I could see Gavin wanted to get out hard. Just had to wait and see what happened and thankfully we got cover for a while and he got a bit of a breather.
“He’s a perfect little racehorse.
“Clayton always thought he was the pick of his two-year-olds this year and the way the season’s going he’s probably right.”
Race 5 – Nathan Jack on Without You
“Big thanks to everyone at home. Everyone that chips in, without them we wouldn’t be here tonight. We’ve had a rough trot lately, but Bill and Anne have been there the whole time.
“Lauriston horses turn out looking amazing and she’s coming good at the right time.”
Race 6 – Gavin Lang on Tell Me Tales
“Good feeling…
“Everything worked out well for her. She was good last week. Barrier draw came out and not what you would have chosen if you had the choice but you knew full well the ingredients were there that it might be a genuine run race and when you’re drawn bad that’s what you require. She’s progressively got better each run Emma and Clayton have had her.
“These colours have been very good to me for a lot of years now. Quite happy to achieve this tonight, especially for these guys. 6000 wins, I’m nearly 60 years that’s only 100 a year so it’s not much when you add it up like that."
Race 6 – Emma Stewart on Tell Me Tales
“This one’s quite special to us because we’ve had a good association with Mrs Head (Helen, the breeder) over the years.”
Race 7 – Glen Craven on Jilliby Kung Fu
“We got the draw. He’s been plagued with bad draws and he’s always had to run second fiddle to Emma and Clayton’s good horses. He’s developed into a really nice horse now and was able to get the job done.
“We’ve always liked him. He took a while to get going as a young horse but every time you took him out on the track he just got better. It’s a great thrill. The amount of work everyone does at home, the hours and after hours, it’s a team effort and that’s what we’re here for.”
“Jason’s (Lee) won more races on him but I drove him as a two-year-old. I went to Sydney with the Breeders Challenge horses. Jason rang me straight after his heat win and said 'he’s ready for you'.
“He’s still improving and hopefully we can have a bit more success with him.”
Race 7 – Marg Lee on Jilliby Kung Fu
“He’s been racing really well and he was super at Kilmore and he did the same tonight sprinting over the top of them.
“You can sit him in and come from behind or he can lead, he’s just a really good horse to deal with. He’s still a stallion and you wouldn’t know it.”
Race 8 – Kim Prentice on Soho Tribeca
“I just have to take my hat off to this horse. I wanted the second favourite to be sitting outside me for longer but it was gone turning for home. He’s an incredible horse and there’s plenty of people Id like to thank, Rob Watson, but this win goes to Mick and Gen Stanley, what they’ve helped me with the last couple of weeks has been unbelievable and if it wasn’t for them I don’t think I’d be there.
“He was 90 per cent better than last week but he’s still only 80 per cent right.”
Race 9 – Michael Bellman on Whenmechief
“(It has) been good to get a pick-up drive for Darren and Julie when they came across. He was a good horse in the Sunraysia and I think he ran third in a South Australian Cup last year, and he’s done a good job for them tonight.”
Race 10 – Greg Sugars on Rule Of Thumb
“Tim’s done a good job to get him back racing as well as he has his last couple. He showed as a two-year-old he was going to be a horse of the future, but unfortunately he’s had a few little hiccups. But they’ve got him back doing everything right and doing well.
“The Nott family put a lot of money into the sport over a number of years and it’s good to see those people get the rewards.”
Media enquiries to:
Cody Winnell (HRV Media/Communications Manager)
t: 03 8378 0288 | e: cwinnell@hrv.org.au | tw: @codywinnell
