Shoreline celebrates following late surge
MACKAY trainer Tracy Simmons is uncertain whether Shoreline will travel to the Gold Coast after booking a spot in the Magic Millions Country Cup at Cluden Park yesterday.
The mare, the $4.80 second favourite, produced a blistering final furlong to beat Confronting by 0.3 lengths in Townsville’s Country Cup Qualifier (1200m).
Early leader Bella Sash initially set a blistering pace, allowing Shoreline to shoot around the field down the outside and edge out Georgie Bourke runner Confronting ($10) and Janel Ryan’s Space Time ($10).
Shoreline settled third last, but circled around the field down the straight to secure the $18,300 winner’s cheque.
It was the six-year-old’s fourth run for Simmons after she was transferred from Beaudesert trainer James Hepworth’s stable, and came after an eye-catching second at Rockhampton on December 18.
Jockey Wanderson D’Avila, deputising for Simmon’s injured husband David, delivered a patient ride.
But whether she backs up on the rich Magic Millions card for her mostly Townsville-based owners on January 12 remains to be seen.
“We’ll have to have a chat to the owners. It possibly wasn’t on the cards but she keeps improving every run,” Simmons said.
“Her last start at Rocky was very good and I was thinking first three today, definitely.
“With David out Wanda (D’Avila) did a great job for us. She comes home like a freight train and I thought if we could get that clear run around the corner and take off sooner rather than later (she could win).”
D’Avila said the early speed in the race played into his hands.
“She jumped pretty good but wanted to jump the buck, so I let her do what she wanted to do,” he said.
“Come the 800m I thought I was travelling very easy, so I thought I’d sit and wait for the straight and go on the outside.
“I think she has a good future.”
The win in the last on the card capped a strong day for the Simmons stable, with Nathan Day also steering Deckeraider ($3.40) to victory in the Maiden Plate (1300m).