La Casona score dogged debut win
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable will be in no rush with La Casona who displayed plenty of fight to score a debut win at Sandown.
A $400,000 yearling purchase by Snitzel, La Casona took out the 2024 Stud And Stable Staff Awards Plate (1300m) on Wednesday.
Well supported in betting to run the $2.70 second favourite with betting sites under Craig Williams, La Casona scored a long neck win from the $1.80 favourite Inez with Into You ($41) a further 2-½ lengths away third.
La Casona and Inez, who had finished runner-up at her first two starts, staged a two-horse war over the final 400m after being the first two to jump from the barriers.
Maher and Eustace assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said there was a lot to like about the debut win, although the stable was likely to resist the temptation of aiming too high, too soon.
“She held off a horse that had been in decent form, so it’s good to get a city win at her first time out as she was an expensive filly,” Turnbull said.
“I think she could get to Stakes grade, especially while she is three, and we’d like to give her that chance, I’d imagine.
“But I think we will go through the grades. She will be three-and-a-half weeks between runs in a (benchmark) 64 next, either back here or Moonee Valley.
“She still has a lot to learn. She did it from the front and was good, but she had that horse at her girth and was on the rail, which probably helped her.
“We’ll see what’s on the card, but thankfully we’ve got a win next to her name and we can look to bigger things.”
Williams had done his homework on La Casona and was expecting the filly to take a lot more riding to find the front.
He said those replays had shown the jockey La Casona was ‘not that fast’.
“But they tinkered with different gear to get her to develop, educate, and now you see that product and she was quite dominant in the end I felt today,” Williams said.
“At her first race start, she wins a city maiden.
“It’s great for her pedigree, and she’s got a lot of upside the way she fought late.”
More Racing News
Bella Nipotina beats I Wish I Win in the Doomben 10,000
Ciaron Maher has been left to marvel at the tenacity of bonny mare Bella Nipotina, who has overcome a busy travel schedule to upset I Wish I Win in the $1.5 million Doomben 10,000. Kicking off her preparation in Melbourne, Bella Nipotina was narrowly edged out by Chain Of Lightning in the T J...
The Map lands a Melbourne Cup berth
Six months of planning has paid off with The Map earning a ‘Golden Ticket’ into the Melbourne Cup. The Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at Flemington on Saturday grants the winner a ballot exemption into the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) in November. Trainers Dan Clarken and Oopy Macgillivray planned their assault on Saturday’s...
Lloyd keeps his cool as Cindy collects Dark Jewel Classic
A composed ride from Zac Lloyd has helped Fall For Cindy post an invaluable Group Three win, the star apprentice keeping his cool despite having to throw the script out the window shortly after the start. Lloyd had hoped to settle the John O’Shea-trained mare in the first half of the field and...
Opal Ridge signals Queensland carnival intentions in Ortensia Stakes
A relieved Luke Pepper will press on to the Queensland winter carnival with renewed confidence after an underdone Opal Ridge maintained her perfect home track record with a classy victory in the Ortensia Stakes at Scone. Pepper admitted to some pre-race anxiety given Opal Ridge hadn’t raced since November, but he banked on...
Draw favours Who Dares in The Straight Six
Who Dares has finally lived up to the lofty expectations placed on him winning a Stakes race at Flemington. The Listed Straight Six (1200m) on Saturday fell the way of the heavily supported gelding, prepared at Mornington by Pat Carey and Harris Walker. Sent out the $3.30 favourite under Patrick Moloney, Who Dares scored...
Bool battler chasing a Melbourne Cup dream
The self-proclaimed little bogan from the Bool with the bargain battler $5000 horse is chasing the dream of a Melbourne Cup start at Flemington. Patrick Ryan Jnr and his stayer Ferago head to the Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m) in search of a ballot exemption into the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington...
Joyful Fortune returns for The Straight Six contest
Former Hong Kong galloper Joyful Fortune is set to renew acquaintances with the Flemington straight in his first run for the Ciaron Maher stable. Joyful Fortune was unbeaten in two starts on the Flemington straight when prepared by Sydney conditioner Mark Newnham. With Newnham now based in Hong Kong, Joyful Fortune will have his...
Shall Samuel and Twain meet in the Melbourne Cup?
To breed one Melbourne Cup runner is an achievement, but to have two in the same race from the one family is something not many can boast. But that’s the dream Gail Temperton and Stan Alexander are hoping to realise this year and Samuel Langhorne can take a giant step towards making...
‘Cheeky’ Attractable ready to roll in the Scone Cup
Attractable has been keeping trainer Sara Ryan on her toes in the lead-up to the Scone Cup and when he is causing mischief on the training track, it usually equates to a bold race day performance. “He’s very much a confidence horse. He thrives off being confident and happy and you know when...
Local mare to launch carnival mission in Ortensia Stakes
Luke Pepper believes the best is still ahead for dual stakes winner Opal Ridge, who will be chasing her second feature race win at Scone in as many years when she resumes in the Ortensia Stakes. The talented mare was triumphant in the Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) on the corresponding program 12...