BARGAIN buy Jadah Rose (Totally Ruthless – Karamea Toastime) continued her fairytale run for hobby trainer Mark Thompson and connections when she won back-to-back Vicbred Super Series titles at Moonee Valley last Friday night.
In a case of deja vu, the tough-as-nails filly dug deep to hold off Protikori in the three-year-old fillies final, just as she had done 12 months prior in the two-year-old final.
The $3600 yearling purchase took her earnings careering past $260,000 with her third Group 1 victory taking her enviable record to 18 wins and five placings from just 24 starts.
Despite before forced to park outside the leader Dilinger Girl throughout after drawing gate seven, the courageous filly packed too many punches to score in a 1:59.7 mile rate for the 2100-metre trip.
Protikori, the perennial feature race bridesmaid, was one-and-a-half-metres in arrears, with Dilinger Girl tiring to finish third, some seven metres from the winner.
Driver John F Ryan was lavish in his praise of the crowd favourite, “She’s so gusty, she just kinds finding when she has to which is very driver’s dream,” he said.
“Full credit to Mark too who has done an enormous job to have this filly up since the South Australian Oaks earlier this year and still be getting improvement out of her.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever drive one as good as her.”
Ineligible for the Breeders Crown, Jadah Rose will have a brief freshen up before returning for the $75,000 Nevele R Stud Australian Oaks on July 14 at Moonee Valley where a possible clash with NZ Oaks winner Western Dream awaits.
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TASMANIAN-bred mare Mi Coconut (Albert Albert-Milady) capped her career with a Group 1 victory in the Queen Of The Pacific at Moonee Valley on Friday night also.
The lightly-raced six-year-old had put the writing on the wall at her previous start in the Ladyship Cup with a brave second to Molly Darling sitting parked in a 1:56.9 mile.
Trained by colourful horseman John “Bulldog” Nicholson, the mare was piloted by six-time Australian premiership winner Chris Alford for Nicholson, who is currently serving a driving suspension.
Ironically, Alford copped a three week suspension and $1000 fine for causing interference on the first corner, but he won plaudits for getting the standing start novice to begin brilliantly and find the position behind the leader.
After trailing defending champion Golden Flyin throughout she peeled out upon turning for home before going on to comfortably defeat that pacer by five-metres in a 2:02.6 mile rate for the 2575-metre handicap.
Cinderella Stakes winner Chilled Sanction filled third at big odds, whilst heavily-backed trio Molly Darling, Katies Secret and Electracited all had their chance but could only muster midfield finishes.
Mi Coconut, the mother of a Presidential Ball weanling colt by embryo transfer, won her first 10 starts, but took over two years to do so owing to a serious back complaint.
The working mum has since taken the past eight months to adjust to open class racing, but has struck a purple patch of late and now boasts 15 wins and six placings from 29 starts.
“She has always had great speed, it was just a matter of getting her to put it altogether,” Nicholson said. “This was the race I’ve been setting her for so to pull it off was great.”
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PUNTERS were left licking their wounds earlier in the night when Our Awesome Armbro (Armbro Operative-Abbeydell) was rolled as a $1.50 favourite.
With trainer Geoff Small in the sulky, the Kiwi raider had to be content with second placing, beaten a metre, in the opening Vicbred Super Series semi final for three-year-old colts and geldings.
The ATC Syndicate colt fell to giant killer Romeo Castle, the much underrated local who was only emergency for the race, but found his way in via two scratchings.
Our Awesome Armbro drew to trail the eventual all-the-way winner, but Small elected to come off the pegs early before sitting parked outside the Graham McDermott-trained and driven polemarker.
The pair dictated the tempo through the middle stages before scooting over the last 800-metres in 57.2 seconds, posting a mile rate of 2:00.5 for the 2100-metre journey.
“In hindsight I might have been better placed trailing the winner, but many felt he might have handed up the lead if that happened,” Small explained.
“It had been 10 days since his last run and we really hadn’t put the screws on him….he a good blow afterwards and I’m sure it will top him off nicely for this week.”
The duo will renew acquaintances in $100,000 Group 1 final this Friday night at Moonee Valley where they’ll clash with the highly promising Captain Kalahari.
The lightly-raced giant, who finished runner-up to Our Awesome Armbro in his heat, impressed sitting parked to defeat NSW Derby runner-up Mcraes Mate in the other semi in a slick 1:58.7 mile rate.
The barrier draw for the final will take place at the offices of Harness Racing Victoria at 10am on Tuesday and all connections are welcome to attend.
