Star Patrol takes out Bobbie Lewis Quality at Flemington
Star Patrol did it the tough way to land the prize in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality at Flemington.
Firstly, the Clinton McDonald-trained sprinter had to do a lot of the hard work on the speed before having to hold the 1200m sprint on Saturday in the Stewards’ room.
Blake Shinn, the rider of the second-placed King Of Sparta, fired in a protest alleging interference over the final 100m.
After a short deliberation, the protest was dismissed.
Ridden by Ben Melham, Star Patrol ($4.20) scored a short-head win from King Of Sparta ($26) with the $2.60 favourite Benedetta the same margin away third.
McDonald said it was a hard watch with Star Patrol being left in front so far from home.
“It was a bloody long straight,” McDonald said.
“I know that they were burning along up front, but those speed horses dropped off.
“He was left there for a fair while out so for a first-up run it was a great effort.
“He’ll come on from that, and that race will give him a lot of confidence.
“He’ll know that it’s not hurting him, and I think he’ll be a happy horse.”
McDonald said he plans on returning to Flemington for the Group 2 Gilgai Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on October 7, after which a decision will made where the sprinter heads.
He said the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival could be a possibility while McDonald is also keen to extend the sprinter out to 1400m.
McDonald said a new slot race, The Bluff Knoll at Albany followed by The Quokka at Ascot were also options being looked at.
Melham allowed Star Patrol to build through his gears, although the jockey admitted that he pressed the button too soon on the sprinter.
“He just seems to be go a lot better when you let him build when he wants to build as opposed to restraining him,” Melham said.
“He’s quite big and rowdy and boisterous so he pulls you around a lot and you’ve just got to go with him.
“First-up today, he’s going to bloody sleep well tonight and he’ll probably need some time between runs, but we got the job done.”
— 7HorseRacing ? (@7horseracing) September 16, 2023
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...