By ‘Pegs’
The Alicia Macpherson-trained Modernissimo, paying $17, made it back-to-back wins in impressively winning on his home track at Kilmore on Friday.
Coming off a Benalla win a fortnight earlier, the New Zealand-bred four-year-old gelded son of Mongolian Khan and Ananiashvilli was again ridden by Jake Noonan in taking out the bet365 Top Tote Plus BM58 Handicap over 1600 metres.
The gelding coming from a rearward position, split the field in the straight to record a nice win over Diamanda, $12, by a long neck with Podente, $4.40, a short-half-head away third.
The gelding who has had head carriage problems throughout his career is improving with racing.
“Jake dropped his hands and the gelding raced kindly,” Macpherson said.
“He rode him a treat.”
Macpherson said the gelding would have his next start at Geelong in a fortnight in a race over 1700 metres.
“It’s a big track that will suit him,” she said.
Modernissimo has now won two races from his 12 starts.
A highlight at the meeting was the first winner for claiming 4kg apprentice Makisha Salter. She was aboard the Amy and Ash Yargi galloper Yulara.
Four favourites were successful on the eight-race card.
Brown’s Lady goes one better
Luckless at Kilmore at her previous start, the Stephen Brown-trained Lady Whistledown, $3, went one better at Echuca on Sunday in taking out the O’Connors now in Echuca BM58 Handicap over 1600 metres.
Dawdling out of the barriers, the Unecumbered Seymour-trained four-year-old mare was positioned at the rear of the field and was given her head by Mitch Aitken in the straight to record a comfortable victory over Miss Athena, $4.20, by two and three quarter lengths with Hanmer Springs, $9.50, a further half-length away third.
“We sent her up Darwin for the Derby last year but they changed the rules,” Brown said.
“All she wants to do is stay.”
Bred and raced by Brown along with his wife Elisha and long-time stable client, Perth-based Peter Jones, Lady Whistledown has now won two races with three minor placings from her 16 starts.
Broken Hill win
Kilmore trainer Jody Thompson, family and her owners made the nine-hour-plus trip with their team to Broken Hill, NSW, a successful one at the weekend.
Thompson saddled-up the newly-acquired Pill Box, a $2.50 favourite, for a decisive win in the Mulga Hill Tavern Benchmark 45 Handicap over 1000 metres on Saturday.
Giving young South Australian claiming-4kg apprentice Caitlin Tootell the first leg of a winning double, the Fighting Sun six-year-old gelding blitzed the nine-horse field to defeat Casino Angel by 4.91 lengths with Honor The Moment third.
Formerly trained by Neville Kennedy, the gelding is now raced by the Thompson family, former Kilmore trainer Angie Barton, and other stable clients.
Pill Box has now won nine races with seven minor placings from his 53 starts.
Kyneton on Thursday
Kyneton and Hanging Rock Racing Club will host a meeting at bet365 Park Kyneton this Thursday.
