By ‘Pegs’
THERE were mixed emotions when the Anthony Chibnall-trained Deekay, paying $7.50, greeted the judge at Sportsbet-Pakenham Synthetic on Sunday.
The three-year-old gelded son of Hellbent and Seagrove was the last horse that Chibnall and long-time stable client Leon McDonald purchased together prior to the latter’s passing in May this year.
Named by McDonald after the trainer of Hellbent, D.K Weir, the gelding was a $75,000 purchase at the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale for the Chibnall family and McDonald’s widow Wendy Jernigan and other family and friends.
Deekay, ridden by Jason Maskiell, was most impressive in taking out the Riverlee Property Group Maiden Plate over 1200 metres.
The gelding defeated Le Gagneur, $5.50, by three lengths with the Peter Moody-trained $2.30 favourite, Waterworld, a further head away third.
“Jason did everything asked of him,” Chibnall said.
“It was a great ride.”
Chibnall, who hasn’t enjoyed the best of health of late, was full of praise for his partner Nadine and his daughter Alyssah for their ongoing tireless work around the stable.
The Kilmore trainer said the gelding would have his next start in a BM64 for three-year-olds over 1300 metres on Bendigo Cup Day on October 26.
Deekay was having only his second start after a pleasing debut third at Echuca on a Soft 7 in July.
The connections of Deekay also collected the Super VOBIS bonus for the win.
Quick return for Dwyer
Seymour trainer Don Dwyer and stable clients have made a quick return for their purchase of Miss Isolation, $6.50, with the Foxwedge five-year-old mare winning at only her second start for the stable.
Miss Isolation, formerly trained by Mitch Beer, was impressive in taking out The Big Screen Company 0-58 Handicap over 1500 metres at Sportsbet-Ballarat Synthetic on Saturday.
Giving former Irishman Robbie Downey the second leg of a riding double, the mare defeated the $4 favourite Cailloux by one and three quarter lengths with King And King, $11, a further one and a quarter lengths away third.
Miss Isolation has now won three races with two minor placings from her 14 starts.
