John Sadler had to check himself to remember his charge Vain Queen was carrying the blue silks of Aquanita Racing.
Sadler rejoined the Aquanita team at Caulfield on June 1 after previously training at Flemington as part of the Malua Racing operation with Troy Corstens.
“My assistant trainer said, `we have only been there a week but it really does feel like home’,” Sadler said.
The move brought immediate dividends when Gallant Harmony scored at Geelong on Tuesday before Vain Queen kept Sadler’s unbeaten record since his move intact in the Dominant Handicap (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Starting the $5 favourite and sporting the Aquanita silks, Vain Queen was three-deep on the speed for most of the race before driving clear late to score comfortably over Nautical ($7.50) and Jolie Blonde ($15).
“It was a bit weird to be looking for those colours,” Sadler said.
Sadler said talented mare Flowerdrum was the last horse he could remember training to win in the Aquanita Racing colours in 2005.
The trainer said he initially planned to take Vain Queen to Queensland for the Brisbane winter carnival but two unplaced runs forced him to lower his sights to an upcoming Listed race over the Flemington straight course.
Sadler’s main objective is to double the number of horses on his books from 30 to 60.
Meanwhile, Anthony Freedman’s operation is also working through a restructure but the trainer has still enjoyed Moonee Valley success with Nicoscene in the Slickpix Sprint (1200m).
Freedman has split his team between his Flemington stable and the Pinecliff training centre at Mount Eliza, south of Melbourne.
Nicoscene ($12), a son of young sire Nicconi, settled third but finished too well for What A Hoot ($15) to score by 1-1/4 lengths with Turfane ($9) third.
Freedman’s representative Ash Yargi said the two-year-old had improved on solid placings at his first two outings but would be a better horse in six months.
