Unusual Culture earns shot at VRC-CRV Winter Championship Final
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Unusual Culture has earned herself a shot at a Stakes race with her win at Flemington.
Victory in the David Bourke Handicap (1620m) at Flemington on Saturday was the final heat of the VRC-CRV Winter Championship with the final, at Listed level, run over 1600m at Flemington on July 1.
Providing Carleen Hefel with the second leg of a winning double, Unusual Culture ($6) scored a three-quarter length win from the $3 favourite Brayden Star with Beehunter ($21) a further 2-½ lengths away third.
With Maher and Eustace in the UK ahead of Coolangatta tackling the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday, assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said the operation had been concerned with the tricky draw on Saturday.
But Turnbull was full of praise for the way Hefel handled the occasion.
“She gave him an absolute pearler,” Turnbull said of Hefel’s ride.
“She followed Mick Price’s and Michael Kent Jnr’s horse (French Emperor) into the race for as long as she could.
“She (Unusual Culture) has a nice turn of foot when saved and she showed that today.
“I’ll have a discussion with Ciaron and David and (racing manager) Reece (Murph), but naturally it (the Final) looks a good race if she comes through this in good order.”
Unusual Culture spent a lot of her early days at Ballarat before transferring the Cranbourne stable.
Turnbull was unsure how far Unusual Culture will progress following the Winter Championship Final.
“We’re at an awkward time now to have a spell,” Turnbull said.
“If we felt there was a race she could target in the spring, she could have a little breather and keep her in work, but not under saddle.
“That way we could get her through to the doorsteps of spring.”
Hefel who scored earlier in the day aboard Sigh in the 2023 Country Achiever Wayne Nichols, said like Turnbull she was concerned at how the race would pan out.
“From that gate it could go horribly wrong, or it could go perfect, and luckily everything worked out just how we wanted it,” Hefel said.
“She’s a lovely mare and today was probably the best she has felt for me.”
More Racing News
Thrilling Scone Cup success for in-form Hellsing
Trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, Hellsing has entered excellent shape and notched his finest victory yet in the Listed $200,000 Arrowfield Scone Cup (1600m) held at Scone on Friday.On his 10th run in a preparation exceeding six months, Hellsing is thriving more than ever, building on a Royal Randwick...
Trainer Moloney sees ongoing enhancement in Hearcomesthestar
Improvement has marked every preparation, and John Moloney, the trainer, expects additional development from Hearcomesthestar in her upcoming appearance at Flemington.From 28 races, Hearcomesthestar has notched six wins and eight places, but Stakes grade has proven challenging for her.The approaching six-year-old earned a Listed placing at Geelong earlier this year,...
Searle family from SA chasing Melbourne Cup dream with Sir Kingsford
Gary and Nichole Searle, together with their daughter Brianna Callanan, form a South Australian training outfit with ambitions for Sir Kingsford in the Melbourne Cup.A victory in Saturday's Listed Andrew Ramsden (3200m) at Flemington earns the winner a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption ahead of the big November event.Nichole Searle sampled...
Scone's Luskin Star Stakes sees Estadio Mestalla with tough weight
Trainer Joe Pride questions the two-kilo advantage given to a Group 1 winner over Estadio Mestalla in the Luskin Star Stakes, but trusts the steady gelding to deliver full commitment.At seven years old, he notched his top triumph in the prior year's Listed Winter Stakes (1100m) and must shoulder 61kg...
Barrier 18 no hindrance to Sequista's Scone return
Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou believe filly Sequista has the class for black-type success despite her tendency to undermine herself.Having notched stakes placings in the 2024 Inglis Nursery (1000m) and run near the placings in Tempted's Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m), the three-year-old targets another milestone in Saturday's Listed Denise's...
Flemington awaits Concord Connie's next bold move
Trainer Charlotte Littlefield hopes her talented filly Concord Connie can replicate her recent feat before entertaining grander aspirations.In her third race appearance at Flemington on Anzac Day, Concord Connie notched a breathtaking win by six lengths in sharp time.This Saturday, the filly heads back to Flemington to compete against the...
Dark Jewel Classic in sights for Harlem Queen
While Harlem Queen didn't sustain her early promise from age three, trainer Nathan Doyle feels confident after her trouble-free lead-up that she might restore reliable results.She returns Saturday in the Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) held at Scone, where despite preferring stamina tests ahead, barrier five positions her well for Doyle's...
Flemington run to decide Different Gravy's Queensland Derby chances
At Flemington, Different Gravy will put his Queensland Derby dreams to the test in upcoming action.Following a Listed triumph over 1800m at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day last year, trainer Henry Dwyer fixed his focus on the northern Derby.The Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm scheduled for May...
Abounding's scratch lets Napoleonic into Doomben 10,000 lineup
Confirmation has arrived that Napoleonic will join the Doomben 10,000 field, following Abounding's removal which opened the door for the colt in the elite Group 1 dash.Team members experienced a stressful seven days after the three-year-old earned second emergency status for the $1.5 million event, as reserve Beadman claimed a...
Snowden's stable loaded with top sprinters for feature clashes
Boasting a stable full of high-caliber sprinters primed for black-type action, trainer Peter Snowden enjoys the luxury of picking and choosing among several prestigious races.Just a couple of weeks earlier, Zealously claimed victory in the Hawkesbury Gold Rush (1100m), followed by King Of Roseau and Beadman grabbing interstate stakes wins...