Plenty of Dove love in betting

THE might of the Godolphin stable looks set to plunder more riches in Tasmania following the victories by two of its promising young stayers.

Cossetot scored a game win in the Tasmanian Derby on Friday and, at Elwick yesterday, the stable’s well-bred three-year-old filly Rock Dove scored an emphatic win in the Strutt Stakes overo 2100m.

Rock Dove ($4.40 into $3.20) was the medium of a betting plunge, but not enough money was outlaid to wrest favouritism from locally trained filly Our Long Sali, whichh started thet popular elect at $2.40.2..40.

Necim Dilmi, Godolphin's travelling foreman and assistant trainer to James Cummings, was thrilled with the overall result and said Godolphin would no doubt continue too target Tasmanian races given the weekend results.

“James [Cummings] was asked to select horses that would be suited to the Tasmanian racesrs and he hash obvious- ly chosen well,” Dilmi said. “After Cossetot won the Derby on Friday, we were convinced we had made the right decision in coming to Tasmania but now that Rock Dove has made it a perfect weekend I would think we will be back.”

Rock Dove was well ridden by Tasmanian jockey Brendon McCoull, who had the filly settled fourth and always travelling like the winner to the home turn.

When he eased her out four-wide to challenge, she forged to the lead and had no trouble fending off Our Long Sali’s challenge over the final 200m.

Our Long Sali’s rider was forced to let the filly ease out to last from her near outside barrier and she did a great job to finish as close as she did to the winner.

Dilmi said Rock Dove would progress to the Tasmanian Oaks (2100m) to be run in Launceston in a fortnight provided she pulled up well.