Much-travelled mare Saturn Rock recaptured her best younger form to give trainer Tony Crane his first black-type win at Doomben on Saturday.
Saturn Rock ($21) finished powerfully to beat Breakfast In Bed ($7) by three-quarters of a length in the Listed Nudgee Quality (1200m).
Saturn Rock
The five-year-old mare originally from New Zealand with trainer Shaune Ritchie before being in the care of Victoria’s Robert Smerdon and Sydney’s Grahame Begg.
Beaudesert-based Crane has had the mare for her past two campaigns and he has given Saturn Rock plenty of time to find her feet.
It was only Saturn Rock’s third win but as a younger horse she was placed in high standard two and three-year-old races.
“I am really glad to see her win because it will add value to her as a broodmare later,” he said.
“That was my first black-type win but I have run plenty of placings. I did win the Magic Millions Sprint with Gullcatcher but that isn’t a black-type race,” Crane said.
Trainer Brian Wakefield is looking towards the Group Two Queensland Guineas in June with his impressive winner Denarius ($8.50).
The gelding travelled deep the whole way but was too strong in the Impact Roofing Three-Year-Old (1110m).
The gelding is raced by a syndicate headed by Wakefield’s wife Natalie who is the grand daughter of former trainer Eric Railton.
Denarius races in Railton’s old colours which were carried by champion Albion Park horse Red Seas and Queensland Oaks winner Aspalita.
Talented but troubled galloper Falino ($7) got conditions to suit when he won the Girls Day Out Open (1200m).
Falino ran a sizzling 1:08.83 when he swamped the unlucky Excellantes ($3.70) in the final 50m.
The seven-year-old gelding has had a series of injury problems and has cheated retirement on a couple of occasions since he was a Group Three winner as a three-year-old.
Earlier, stewards delayed declaring correct weight after apprentice Bridget Grylls alleged she was denied a fair start on favourite Tiger Dimejan in the Ashgrove Cricket Club Hcp.
Tiger Dimejan missed the start by ten lengths and Grylls alleged it was because an attendant had hold of the horse’s head as the field jumped.
But after taking evidence from barrier staff stewards declared Tiger Domejan a starter.
The race was won by improving northern rivers mare Espiritu ($3.80) who broke the class record with her win.
