THE Hope stable was successful at Caulfield on Wednesday when the well-performed Cameron Falls won the benchmark 66 1200 metre event.
The five-year-old Sacred Falls gelding has now had three wins, four seconds and three thirds from his 18 starts, with career earnings of $116,075.
Ridden by apprentice Luke Cartwright, the horse settled midfield during the running, clearing out to a comfortable 0.75 length win. Now carrying a rating of 68, it would seem that more city racing is in store for the horse. Cameron Falls is out of the blue blood mare Pink Bubbles, herself retired to stud early due to injury, but closely related to champions such as Darci Brahma and Burgundy. Melbourne Cup winner Ethereal appears in the pedigree along with many other top rated Australian and New Zealand performers.
Seymour trainer Ron Hockley had a day to remember at the annual Dederang picnic meeting.
Hockley took out the first race on the card with Mahra in the maiden 1350 race. Sir Lazarus set a breakneck pace in front with Mahra kept in touch third in the running by jockey Leigh Taylor. In the end Mahra ran down Sir Lazarus to win comfortably by 2.25 lengths. Two races later, Hockley’s horse Lord Chapel only just failed to get his nose in front of tearaway leader Enough War, just being pipped 0.1 length at the post. The results earned Hockley the prize for leading trainer at the meeting, which carried a $1000 bonus.