For the connections of former French galloper Rivaport, it was lucky their mare was engaged in the opening race at Sandown.
On a warm Melbourne day, trainer Grahame Begg expected plenty of 'juice' to be in the track early in the program so it would not become too firm later in the day.
The decision to start provided French trainer John Hammond with his first Australian winner when Rivaport took out the Thoroughbred Club Australia Handicap (1600m) on Wednesday.
Ridden by Jordan Childs, Rivaport, the $1.65 favourite, scored a 2-½ length win from Defining ($3.10) with Red On Red ($9.50) a half-neck away third.
Despite being opposed to only three opponents, Begg said it was never easy to win in small field, although Wednesday's race was run at a nice tempo.
"She had a good trail into the race, and I think she has a bit of upside this girl," Begg said.
"We know once we start getting a bit of softer ground she will really come to the fore.
"I ran her today because it was the first race and we thought there would be some nice juice in the ground, but if it had been a late race, I might not have run her.
"We might back off her now, give her a couple of easy weeks down at the beach and then by that time it might cooled off a bit and we might be able to place her to advantage.
"We think she'll be better with softer ground and the breed do like it."
Rivaport races in the OTI colours which will be worn by I'm Thunderstruck in the $5 million All-Star Mile at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
OTI's Terry Henderson explained Hammond and OTI's French agent Emanuel de Seroux were involved in the ownership of Rivaport.
"John Hammond has won two Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe's and I think this is his first winner in Australia and our agent in France, Emanuel de Seroux, also has a share in the horse," Henderson said.
"It's good to have a couple of internationals in her."
Rivaport trots in for her maiden victory in Australia @Grahame_Begg @JChilds47 pic.twitter.com/eXeigpdxQl
— Racing.com (@Racing) March 15, 2023
| FP | Silk | Horse, Age & Sex Sire & Dam |
Jockey Trainer |
SP
WT |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st |
|
2. RIVAPORT (FR) 5yo M LE HAVRE (IRE) - RIVABELLA (FR) |
JORDAN CHILDS GRAHAME BEGG |
$1.65
59.5kg |
|||||||
| O T I Racing (Mgrs: T F Henderson & S Driscoll), Mrs L de Seroux, J Hammond & O T I Breeding 2019 (Mgr: T F Henderson) | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| 2nd |
|
3. DEFINING (NZ) 4yo M NOT A SINGLE DOUBT (AUS) - SEDUCED (AUS) |
MADISON LLOYD T & C MCEVOY |
$3.1
57kg |
|||||||
| YES Bloodstock & Stallion Match | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| 3rd |
|
4. RED ON RED (AUS) 5yo G MAGNUS (AUS) - YASEY SAN (AUS) |
JAKE NOONAN JOHN PASCOE |
$9.5
59kg |
|||||||
| J A Pascoe, P J Morgan, Mrs S L Morgan, Mrs K Witt, D Witt, J S Tulloch, Miss J B Schmidt, G Hill, Mrs M A Hill, J Hill, S L Briggs, J Hall & DJ Pascoe | |||||||||||
| 4th |
|
5. GALAXY TURF (AUS) 6yo G TURFFONTEIN (AUS) - PITCH PERFECT (AUS) |
MS HANNAH LE BLANC JOHN ROWE |
$20
51.5kg |
|||||||
