By ‘Pegs‘
SEYMOUR trainer Lesia Masnyj was presented with her biggest thrill in five years of racing at Ladbrokes Park Sandown last Wednesday when her mare Mothereens dead-heated with The Maggstar.
Judges couldn’t split the mares, with both trainers of Ukranian heritage thrilled with saddling-up their first city winners in the Metcap Finance National Apprentice Race Series over 1300 metres.
Mothereens, $26, is a five-year-old daughter of Squamosa and the good race mare, Marwina Lass.
The mare gave the star apprentice Celine Gaudray the second of four winners on the eight-race program.
The $3 race favourite Extreme Ally finished third, three quarters of a length behind the dead-heaters.
Mothereens had four minor placings prior to her maiden win from her 17 starts.
HOOFNOTE: The Tryzub – the Ukranian coat of arms – was adorned on both sets of colours while the set carried to victory by Gaudrey also included the country’s national flower, the sunflower.
Father and son combine
Fellow Seymour trainer Stephen Brown got a double thrill out of saddling-up My Brothers Keeper, $26, at Sportsbet-Pakenham last Thursday night.
Brown’s son, Stephen Jr, was aboard the three-year-old gelded son of Fiorent and Any Dane Now, giving the comeback jockey his second win since a long recovery from life-threatening injuries incurred in a jumpout fall at Wangaratta in November 2018.
The Browns combined to take out the $40,000 Sportsbet Bet With Mates BM64 Handicap over 1600 metres defeating the $2.60 favourite Whakamana by a short half-head with Philadelphia Storm ($4.40) a further three-and-a-half lengths away third.
“It was a big thrill to see Stephen aboard,” Brown Sr said.
“That was a handy field and he had no luck last start. He’s a nice horse.”
Brown said there was a nice race for him at Sandown over 1800 metres on May 6, worth $150,000.
Bred at Gleneagles Stud, Yarra Valley by Kevan and Lyn Waycey and raced by them in partnership, has now won two races with a minor placing from only five starts.
Wodonga winners
District stables shared success at bet365 Park Wodonga last Friday.
Kyneton trainer Liam Howley who is in the process of relocating to Macedon Lodge was successful in taking out the first – the Public Safety Training and Response Group Maiden Plate over 1590 metres with the $2 favourite Rhythmic Dragon.
Ridden by Mitch Aitken, the consistent Alpine Eagle four-year-old gelding, raced by Howley and other stable clients, had three minor placings prior to his win from 12 starts.
Later on the border-town program, Kilmore trainer Tony Chibnall was most impressive in an all-the-way win with Storm’s Colours ($4.40) in the Boss Better Living Systems Handicap over 1590 metres.
Ridden by Jack Hill, the Fighting Sun five-year-old gelding defeated Rapid Ruby ($8) by three-and-a-half lengths, with Miss Athena, $6.50, a further three quarters of a length away third.
Storm’s Colours has now won six races with 15 minor placings from his 42 starts earning $167,628 in prizemoney.
Grand Final win
The Don Dwyer-trained Dishy’s, $10, was an all-the-way winner in the $25,000 Designer Coolroom The Victorian Picnic 22/23 Grand Final over 1600 metres at Cranbourne last Friday night.
Beautifully rated by premier picnic hoop, Shaun Cooper, the ultra-consistent Duporth seven-year-old gelding hung on to defeat the Tyson Barton mount Femme Americain, a $3 favourite, by one-and-a-quarter lengths, with Continuation, $11, third.
Dishy’s has now won 10 races with 18 minor placings from his 65 starts.
The Dwyer/Cooper combo travelled to Grenfell (NSW) the previous Saturday and were successful with Kulina, a $1.70 favourite, in the 1000-metre maiden.
Local takes the last
The Kyneton and Hanging Rock Racing Club hosted a seven-race meeting at Bet365 Park Kyneton on Saturday and local trainer Neil Dyer saddled-up Svaneke, $11, for a comfortable win.
The Magnus six-year-old mare took out the bet365 Protest Promise 0-58 Handicap over 1850 metres.
Giving promising apprentice Tom Prebble the second leg of a riding treble, the mare defeated the $101 pop Unanchored by three quarters of a length, with Landgrave, $12, third.
