Team Sears finds smart Wun
RACING: Tony and Maddy Sears have landed themselves a handy type with their newest stable addition making an impressive local debut at Clifford Park.
Dis Dah Wun was sent out as a $1.50 favourite for the Get Out Stakes Maiden Handicap (1050m) in her first start since moving north.
After a moderate beginning, the four-year-old settled worse than midfield, before a split opened upon turning for home.
She blew the whistle, putting paid to her rivals in a matter of strides to score a comfortable 1 ½ length victory from the well supported Sister Kathleen ($3.50).
Dis Dah Wun had two previous starts in Sydney for Team Hawkes for two minor placings, before being transferred to Toowoomba.
Co-trainer Tony Sears said they’re delighted to have her in the stable, and he believes there are better things in store.
“She went well and we’re happy with what she did,” Sears said.
“We train for one of the partners in Little Miss Pixie, who are good friends with the Crosby family.
“They have quite a few horses with the Hawkes’, and
he said he didn’t think she was up to Sydney Saturday standard.
“Hopefully there’s more to come. She’s a good mare and she should measure up in
town. I expect her to win in Brisbane.”
The win had extra significance, with Ben Moffat marking his return to the saddle for the first time since January
2012.
“It was good to reward Ben with his first winner back,” he said.
“He’s a good young bloke who has ridden a bit of track for us, and we were happy to reward him with the ride.”
Persistent rain in the leadup to the seven-race card provided a heavy surface, with onpace runners making their mark.
It started with Skye Bogenhuber getting Front Page News ($4.40) to the front in the Vanderfield Benchmark 58 Handicap (2175m), with the five-year-old in a completely different race to the others, racing away to score by 4 ¾ lengths.
Later in the night, Emma MacPherson secured a race-to-race double with a pair of frontrunning displays.
Tabard ($9.50) was sent to the front from the wide draw, and never looked like being headed at any stage, racing away to a 5 ¼ length victory.
She backed it up aboard Best To Hurry in the Sander Partners QTIS Benchmark 62 Handicap (1210m), jumping well and opening up an insurmountable lead to claim a 2 ½ length win, giving Kevin Kemp a training double after the success of Front Page News.
# THE five-race program at Goondiwindi was abandoned due to the state of the track.