Opal Ridge proving a gem for Pepper
All's well that ends well.
That was the sentiment from trainer Luke Pepper after his stable star Opal Ridge rebounded from a disastrous trip to Melbourne to win Saturday's Listed Darby Munro Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill.
The Scone-based Pepper sent the filly to Melbourne for the Inglis Sprint and while she had no issue with the 12-hour float journey there, she injured her shin on the short trip from her Victorian stabling to the track and was scratched on veterinary advice.
"It has been a rough couple of weeks with her," Pepper said.
"We got scratched in Melbourne, we brought her home, then the barrier draw has come out (for the Darby Munro) and we've drawn 16 of 16.
"I said to Tyler (Schiller), 'ride her quiet, she's got a good turn of foot' and what a ride. He got through and she was dominant.
"The world's her oyster at the moment."
A bargain Inglis sales buy, Opal Ridge has now won five of her eight starts and more than $500,000 in prizemoney.
Pepper, who was the trackwork rider of grand sprinter Takeover Target, now has himself a headline horse as a trainer.
"Everybody needs a good horse. She was a $20,000 buy from the Inglis sales and we're all living the dream with her," he said.
Opal Ridge will have her next start in the Group 3 P J Bell Stakes (1200m) at Randwick during The Championships.
Rosehill winner Sydney Cup-bound
Chris Waller's decision to bypass a certain start in the Adelaide Cup in favour of a Sydney Cup bid has been all but vindicated with Timour posting a narrow but determined victory in Saturday's N E Manion Cup (2400m) at Rosehill.
The win will go a long way towards earning Timour a spot in the two-mile feature in three weeks when Waller expects him to relish the distance rise, given the horse competed in a 4355m race at Royal Ascot during Nature Strip's UK trip last June.
"This horse raced at Royal Ascot when Nature Strip was up there over 4000-metres, so we know a bit about the horse and we knew he was coming for a long time," Waller said.
"It's good to see him put one on the board.
"We had the choice to go to Adelaide for the Adelaide Cup ten days ago, we said, 'no, we'll stick to the plan and go to the Sydney Cup' and (hopefully) he has found his way into the field now."
Ridden by Kerrin Mcevoy, Timour ($11) travelled handy to the speed and knuckled down over the final stages to get the verdict in a blanket finish where less than a length separated the first five horses.
He held off the fast-finishing Raging Bull ($21) by a short half-head with leader Sir Lucan ($3.20 fav) a nose away third.
Sargeant celebrates with Gin Martini
John Sargent's marvellous record with stayers, particularly fillies and mares, has continued at Rosehill with Gin Martini fending off her rivals to take out the Group 3 Epona Stakes (1900m).
Sargent has produced the likes of Quintessential, Luvaluva and Gust Of Wind - the last horse to beat Winx in the 2015 ATC Australian Oaks - for stakes success and Gin Martini is now a dual black-type winner after claiming the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) at Caulfield in November.
The Randwick horseman credits that interstate trip as the making of Gin Martini, who will have her next start in the Chairman's Handicap (2600m) before a possible tilt at either the Sydney Cup or Andrews Ramsden Stakes, which is a Melbourne Cup qualifier.
"The trip to Melbourne for the Sandown Cup at Caulfield really brought her on a lot more. She is getting to her peak now," Sargent said.
"I'd say the Chairman's looks a nice race over 2600 with no weight in a couple of weeks, especially if its wet."
Gin Martini ($9.50) overcame a wide run, spearing to the front halfway up the straight and digging deep for Damian Lane to hold out Thalassophile ($4 fav) and Douceur ($19).
Rawiller lifts Lindermann to victory
The saying goes that luck happens when preparation meets opportunity but sometimes even the best laid plans need a good dose of Nash Rawiller magic.
Shortly after Lindermann fought back under Rawiller to win the Rosehill Guineas (2000m) on Saturday, trainer Chris Waller revealed he and the hoop had walked the Rosehill track together earlier that morning.
Both thought the inside was superior ground but when the first three races revealed a different story, Waller had to rely on Rawiller to get the race right on Lindermann.
"Nash and I walked the track and we thought the inside three was the place to be, but you're getting the vibe that it's better out wider," Waller said.
"So on a frontrunner, we didn't know whether to go forward, back.
"But that's Nash at his best. He doesn't get flustered, he's got the confidence to dictate and still know he's strong in the last 200 metres."
Lindermann looked certain to run a bold second when Pericles ranged up and put his head in front but under a typically vigorous Rawiller ride, the colt lifted, fighting back to deny the Godolphin favourite by a half-head.
The fence proved more favourable as the day unfolded with several winners making their runs along the inside, including Waller's Golden Slipper hero Shinzo.
Quote of the day: ""Just like any other night, you have a couple of beers and a wine and reflect on how good racing has been to me." – Chris Waller on how he would celebrate a first Golden Slipper win with Shinzo.
