By ‘Pegs’
SEYMOUR trainer Stephen Brown saddled-up Heavenly Emperor for an emphatic win at Bendigo on Sunday.
The seven-year-old gelded daughter of Echoes Of Heaven and Race Empress had been out of the winner’s stall since saluting at Caulfield in January 2021.
At odds of $20 on Sunday, she was forced to race three wide for most of the 1500-metre journey but was too strong at the end to take out the $37,500 Warrnambool Veterinary Clinic Handicap.
Giving claiming four-kilogram apprentice Emily Pozman her second career win, the gelding defeated James The Great, $15, by a half-head with the $4.20 favourite Smart Elissam a further three-quarters of a length away in third.
“It was a good ride by Emily with the four kilogram claim making a difference,” Brown said.
“She’s quite an accomplished rider who has a future. I first met her when I was up at Darwin.
“I sent the gelding down to Logan McGill for beach work late last year and he had a couple of runs down there without success.”
Brown said the gelding was going to be retired if he didn’t show anything on Sunday, but now he would head to Melbourne for his next start.
Heavenly Emperor was purchased in New Zealand by Brown after having five runs, and is raced by the trainer’s brother Roy, along with other stable clients.
The gelding has now won seven races with eight minor placings from his 40 starts earning $414,777 in prize money.
Ladies Day at Wodonga
Kilmore trainers Jody Thompson and Annie Goble saddled up winners within half an hour of each other at Wodonga on Monday last week.
They were successful with More Saturdays, $11-$7.50, and Femme Americain, $31-$26, respectively.
The former, a seven-year-old daughter of Needs Further and Champagne Saturday was having her 27th start when she narrowly took out the M Force Security Maiden Plate over 2050 metres.
Giving the in-form Teo Nugent the second leg of a riding treble on the program, the mare hung on to defeat Rhonda Vous, $4.80, by a short-half-head with Testing The Cugat, $15, a further three length astern third.
“Nothing really went to plan as she was going to be up there handy,” Thompson said.
“I don’t know why, but she just decided to be slow out of the gates.
“It was a brilliant ride by Teo again. The mare didn’t have much luck at Kilmore last start.”
More Saturdays was bred and is part-owned by long-time and loyal stable client Craigieburn-based Ian Forsyth.
The mare has had five minor placings prior to Monday’s win.
The Goble-owned and trained Americain six-year-old mare, having her 10th start this preparation, was most impressive taking out the 2050-metre Peards Albury BM58 Handicap.
Ridden by the Riverina-based Josh Richards hoop, the mare came from midfield and was too strong at the finish defeating Autissiodorum, $4.40, by two and a quarter lengths with War At Sea, $26, a short-half-head away third.
“We had a terrific run throughout the race, sitting behind the right horses who took us into the race,” Richards said.
“She kept picking up the bridle and she had plenty to give.”
Femme Americain has now won seven races with 11 minor placings from her 51 starts.
Kilmore success
The following day, Kilmore Racing Club hosted a successful turf meeting at bet365 Park Kilmore with a bigger than normal crowd in attendance.
Local stables were shy of the winning post with Kilmore trainer Alicia Macpherson looking like the winner in the first race with King Of Memphis, $18, only to get run down by the Matt Cumani-trained debutante No Matter What, $9.50.
Highlight of the meet was the riding double by international hoop Damian Lane. Three favourites were successful on the eight-race card.
Upcoming meetings
Kilmore will host another turf meeting on Friday, February 24, and Kyneton and Hanging Rock Racing Club to host a meeting on Thursday, March 2.
