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WATERHOUSE STRIKES WITH OAKS-BOUND
FILLY
CHAMPION Sydney trainer Gai Waterhouse wasted no
time striking early carnival success with talented
filly Beaujolais in the $100,000 Integrated Group
Bracelet at NCF Doomben yesterday.
Beaujolais, raced by one of the stable’s leading
clients, Gold Coast-based Yvonne Smith, led from
a wide draw and lasted to score by a neck from the
fast finishing Victory Highway with Peaceful Honour
third.
There was a downside to the race for Kylie Cunningham,
rising star of the apprentice ranks in Queensland,
who was suspended by stewards for six weeks over
her ride on runner-up Victory Highway.
Cunningham was outed on charges of careless riding
and failing to take all reasonable and permissible
measures to ensure her mount obtained the best possible
position in the field.
John Hackett, who chaired the meeting, said stewards
took exception to Cunningham’s lack of initiative
between the 800m and 500m when she had failed to
improve or raced behind horses under pressure.
“We don’t believe there is any intent
to stop the horse doing its best. But we do query
your judgment and there are standards that have to
be maintained,” Mr Hackett told her.
An emotional Cunningham strongly defended her ride.
That was backed by her father, the trainer Paddy
Cunningham, who explained that Victory Highway is
a difficult filly to handle. Kylie today lodged an
appeal.
Beaujolais, which continued the great winning run
being enjoyed by Waterhouse and jockey Chris Munce,
will now head to toward the G1 $325,000 Joe Richards
Menswear Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm on June 5.
Owner Yvonne Smith revealed had Waterhouse had brought
a farrier over from New Zealand to help the filly
overcome problems with hoof corns.
Munce was also high in his praise of the winning
effort. “All she wanted to do was look for
the other horses. When she spotted Rose of Kwila
(on the turn), she just took off again.
“Even at the 800m she hit the rail because
she wasn’t concentrating and she just thought
she was there for a Sunday picnic,” Munce said.
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: John Lingard – May
4.
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Chris
Munce returns on Beaujolais after
winning the Doomben Bracelet on Monday.
(Noel Pascoe photo) |
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