Trainer scoops six wins
He’s a nice strong type and I wouldn’t be surprised if he finished up making a 2000-metre horse.
— Mark Pegus
Most racing eyes are presently on Australia’s southern spring stars, but trainer Ben Currie and jockey Mark Pegus cranked up their own carnival party at Clifford Park on Saturday.
Currie produced a Winx-like performance to sweep through the seven-race card with six victories and a second placing.
Joining the Currie romp was recently arrived stable jockey Mark Pegus who helped himself to four wins on the card.
Pegus scored on Mishani Rainman ($3.30), Amanaat ($1.30 fav), Hot Talk ($1.85 fav) and Apoloboom ($1.85 fav).
Apprentice Nick Keal and jockey Nozi Tomizawa rounded out Currie’s half dozen with victories on Island Sunset ($1.95 fav) and High Africaine ($3.60 fav).
Island Sunset reaped connections an instant return on their investment when she turned her fortunes around with a break-through win in the St Patrick’s Cathedral Maiden Plate (1625m).
The six-year-old was having her first start for Currie after arriving at his stable only last week following 17 winless starts.
With the aid of a positive front-running ride, Island Sunset scored by 61⁄4 lengths in class record time.
Wilma ($5.50) worked home solidly to edge Sheza Good Girl ($8.50) out of second.
“I’ve only just bought her off a bloke and I picked her up on Wednesday,” Currie said.
“Her last run at Ipswich behind Pinch Passion read well after Pinch Passion came out and won a city race at its next start.”
Pegus was left impressed with the effort of Mishani Rainman ($3.30) who broke through at start number two in the Hy-Tec QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Plate (1300m).
The Real Saga gelding found a strong kick in the home straight when challenged by third placegetter and $2.40 favourite The Groom to extend for a 21⁄2 length win from Sheezinajam ($6).
“He’s a nice strong type and I wouldn’t be surprised if he finished up making a 2000-metre horse,” Pegus said.
Only a bold debut win by Tisani Magic ($2.40) in the A1 Kerbs & Edging Maiden Plate (1050m) denied the Currie stable a meeting clean-sweep.
Keal lifted Tisani Magic to a 3⁄4-length win over the Currie-trained Mishani La Scala as the pair gapped their rivals with By The Law ($71) 51⁄2 lengths back third.
Tisani Magic capped a fruitful Saturday for Toowoomba trainer Kevin Kemp who saw his game mare Sold For Song ($20) resume with a hard-finishing second to Keen Array ($8) in the Group Two Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.