Win big compliment to colt
Filly had been easily beaten at Pukekohe by Marsh’s Ardrossan
Stephen Marsh’s two-year-old debutante was out of luck yesterday but he was still able to derive a good deal of satisfaction from the race’s outcome. The Cambridge trainer’s representative Screaming Mimi was unplaced in the Avondale Sunday Markets Fillies Classic, which was taken out in impressive front-running style by So Far Sokool.
The runaway winner had made her first appearance from Peter and Dawn Williams’ stable earlier this month at Pukekohe where she was soundly beaten by Marsh’s Ardrossan.
“We thought she would go close first-up, but she ran into one better — I’m glad he’s going to Australia,” Peter Williams said.
Ardrossan will make his farewell performance in the Listed Hamilton Vets Equine Stakes at Te Rapa on May 6, after which he will be joining Mick Price’s Caulfield operation.
Plans for So Far Sokool are uncertain with Williams preferring to see how his daughter of Showcasing progresses in the next few days before setting anything in stone.
“The better track here probably helped her and we’ll get her home and play it by ear, she’s not very big and is still a bit fragile,” he said.
So Far Sokool was quickly into stride and travelled comfortably to the turn under rider Mark Du Plessis.
When the favourite Piper issued a challenge into the straight it was answered emphatically by So Far Sokool, who dashed clear to win easing down by four and a half lengths.
Gary Vile deflected a lot of the credit for Slimline’s upset victory in their hometown feature yesterday.
The Awapuni trainer produced the Castledale mare for an upset win and her first black type success in the Listed Manawatu ITM Anzac 1550.
“This is special with all my family and friends here and I have to thank Danielle Johnson — she rode the horse back last time and came around the field.
“I thought we’d try that again and now the mare has got black type.”
With Johnson riding at Avondale, Slimline was handled by Robert Hannam and they settled at the back of the field before circling runners across the top. The mare held a strong gallop in the run home to score at odds of 17-1. Slimline had given an indication before the race of her wellbeing by bucking and kicking out in the back parade ring.
“I was hoping that was a good sign,” Vile said.
The five-year-old has now won four times and she is unbeaten this preparation after her first-up victory under Johnson earlier this month.
The well-fancied Beefeater gave a good account of himself in finishing second after trainer Roydon Bergerson had voiced pre-race concerns about the Alamosa gelding coping with the slow ground.
“On a better track I’d have put the house on him,” he said.
Bronsteel finished third after hitting the front 200 halfway down the straight with Tessastock fourth after she made her move 800 metres from home.