Lafferty realises Flemington dream
One winner at Flemington on Saturday would have been among Laura Lafferty's career highlights, so the fact she won twice was particularly satisfying.
The in-form apprentice won back-to-back races early on the card; Race 2 aboard Jenny Jerome for Patrick Payne and Race 3 on the Peter Moody-trained Sigh.
They were her first wins at Australia's most famous racecourse and the 24-year-old was thrilled to make the most of her opportunities.
"That (Jenny Jerome) was my first Flemington winner and to get two is really good," she said.
"I feel like I've been riding well for a while but just haven't been getting the opportunities, so I can't thank the trainers enough."
The Flemington double followed a Saturday city double at Sandown on April 30, when she was successful aboard Jenny Jerome and Barbie's Fox.
Kavanagh taking his time with First Immortal
First Immortal provided Mark Kavanagh with his second win in the 2000m National Jockeys Trust Trophy in the past three seasons, but he is unlikely to follow the same path as his previous winner.
Kavanagh sent Horrifying to Brisbane for the Group 1 Queensland Derby after his win two years ago, but the Melbourne Cup-winning trainer said that race – which will be run next Saturday at Eagle Farm – was not suitable for the son of Churchill.
Instead, the gelding is likely to head to the 2500m Mahogany Challenge for which Saturday's race was the third heat.
"I think that's where we planning to go," Kavanagh said.
"We don't really want to push him too hard and go to Queensland, we think we can just run him through the grades and there might be something better along the way in Spring.
"He's just green and he's just going to get better with time."
First Command ($4.40) defeated Son Of Solly ($5.50) by 1-1/4 lengths with King's Crossing ($15) 1-1/2 lengths away third.
Mimi's Award wins again…at last
The decision to withdraw Mimi's Award from next week's Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale was vindicated when the five-year-old won the SENTrack Supports The NJT Trophy (2500m).
The victory was the fourth of her career and came two years and one week after her previous success, in the Group 3 SA Fillies Classic – the 2023 edition of which was run in Adelaide on Saturday.
In between she has run four second placings – one of which came after being relegated on protest – and three thirds and co-trainer Ben Hayes was thrilled to see the owners' patience rewarded.
"I know it's two years between wins, but she's run a lot of seconds and thirds in really good races and I think she's a horse that's just been looking for a little bit of give out of the track," Hayes said.
Lindsay Park will now chase more wins in winter with the daughter of Shamus Award, who was down to be sold alongside the likes of Forbidden Love, Snapdancer and Sunshine In Paris on the Gold Coast on Tuesday only to be withdrawn.
South Of Houston does family proud
South Of Houston shows much more dash than her most famous half-sibling and she is one day likely to be given her shot at scoring another Stakes win for the family after winning the final race at Flemington.
The daughter of Deep Field proved too speedy for her rivals in the $130,000 Jockey Assistance Program Plate, leading from start to finish in the 1200m event.
Like Group 1 Sprig Champion Stakes winner Vanbrugh she is out of the Lucky Owners mare Soho Secret and co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr is thrilled with the start she has made to her career with two wins and three second placings from just five starts.
"She runs first or second every single start and she's a half to Vanbrugh, who's won a Group 1, so we'll be chasing Black Type at some stage no doubt, but that was a very smart win."
