Hay’s pair of mares keeping it in the family
LONGFORD thoroughbred trainer Ian Hay is no stranger to preparing doubles at race meetings but the two that saluted for him at Elwick on Sunday come from a family that delivered the winners of the state’s only Group race for fillies and mares.
Stefanidi won a class one handicap with David Pires aboard and Sidorova blitzed her rivals to take out a benchmark 66 handicap over 1100m with talented apprentice Codi Jordan in the saddle.
Both of Hay’s mares rattled home along the rails while the opposition tried to make ground out wide.
“In 50 years of us racing I’ve always said ( to jockeys) the shortest way home is along the rails and both riders of my horses did that today,” Hay said.
“It’s always good to get a winner and twice as good when you snare a double.”
Stefanidi is by Wordsmith from Catendra, an unraced mare from the Hays’ former top- producing broodmare Dragila, while Sidorova is by Brazen Beau from Isibaeva that is a daughter of Dragila.
Dragila was an outstanding race mare winning three two- year- old classics and as a four- year- old she collected the Group 3 Bow Mistress and
Vamos double before going on to win the Listed Newmarket Handicap the following season.
Dragila’s daughter Isibaeva also snared the Bow Mistress- Vamos double, but before the races were upgraded to Group 3 status.
“These mares come from a great family that goes back to Dragila and she won a Bow Mistress and Vamos, as did one of her daughter Isibaeva, so it would be unreal if Sidorova could do it for us this season.”
Sidorova and Stefanidi have big shoes to fill but if Sidorova can continue to improve this time in she could measure up during the Ladbrokes Tasmanian Summer of Racing.
The mare has won three and been placed four times from only 10 starts, while Stefanidi has a bit of catching up
IN 50 YEARS OF US RACING I’VE ALWAYS SAID ( TO JOCKEYS) THE SHORTEST WAY HOME IS ALONG THE RAILS AND BOTH RIDERS OF MY HORSES DID THAT TODAY
TRAINER IAN HAY
to do with two wins and as many placings from eight starts.
THE John Luttrell- trained Encosta Fiorente went into a 1400m maiden at Elwick on Sunday having placed at her previous outing, but despite the good form and with inform rider Brendon McCoull on top, the mare started at the luxury price of $ 6.
McCoull had the fouryear- old mare well placed just
off the speed and when he aimed her at the middle of the track she motored home to score by almost two lengths from the favourite Sir Da Vinci ($ 2.25) with Brew Horse three lengths astern and just ahead of Lady of Vienna ($ 51).
“I thought her run at her previous start was outstanding and I thought she was a huge winning chance on that run,” Luttrell said.
“We’ll just keep plodding
along with her and on that for she should pick up another win or two.”
LADY MARINA made an impressive debut by winning the Hype TV Maiden over 1200m.
The Imogen Miller- trained three- year- old filly was having her first start for former prominent owner Jim Scott, who bred the filly ( x O’Lonhro) from his former handy race mare Marina Miss.