Signify wins for Johnson
The South Island got among the day’s black-type action at Trentham when January’s Telegraph winner returned to the scene of her greatest triumph.
Signify was breath-taking in the Group I feature and was in similar form in Saturday’s Listed Lightning Handicap over the same 1200m trip.
Telegraph jockey Racha Cunneen was missing as he joined the wedding party of fellow South Island jockey Daniel Bothamley but he had a worthy substitute.
A magic Chris Johnson ride saw the Perfectly Ready mare a clear last as the field thundered for home.
But Johnson had the situation under total control, and when he asked Signify she burst between horses for an easy 1:8.78 dash on the Dead 5 track.
‘‘The pace was solid which suited her,’’ winning trainer Alex Cowan said. ‘‘She likes this big, roomy track.’’
Owned by the trainer’s wife Tracey, Signify has won nine times for prize money earnings of around $333,000.
Meanwhile Bonneval has the stretch typical of the best stayers.
The long, loping stride of the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained filly proved superior to her New Zealand Oaks rivals on Saturday afternoon.
Sent out favourite for the race after a volley of bets, including a couple of late plunges for the Makfi filly on the back of her lead-up win in the Lowland Stakes, she never caused her army of supporters any concern.
The glamour girl settled at the rear early, but top jockey Matthew Cameron, fresh from a Group I win aboard Bonneval’s stablemate Lizzie L’Amour on Thursday at Ellerslie, gradually worked her into the race. Despite a gallant fight from brave runner-up Devise, Cameron always appeared to have the situation under control.
‘‘The speed was genuine,’’ Cameron said. ‘‘It suited her – she’s a class filly and she got to the front, flicked her ears and she had more.’’
Bonneval and Devise had the finish to themselves with Savvy Dreams running on for third with the winner’s stablemate Nicoletta battling into fourth.
Baker was sharing his second Oaks win with owners John Rattray and Alister Lawrence. They won the 2004 South Australian Oaks with Dowry and they are joined by Terry Jarvis in Bonneval who is the fourth stakes winner out of the Zabeel mare Imposingly.
Earlier in the day the stable won the Group II Wellington Guineas with Saracino who will have a crack at next month’s Group II Arrowfield 3YO Sprint at Randwick.