A fighting win at Randwick under a big weight has secured a late Queensland carnival berth for talented three-year-old Scarf.
The Peter Snowden-trained gelding will be sent north for the Listed Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m) on July 2 after holding off the fast-finishing Next The Universe to win Saturday’s Ultimate Security Handicap (1400m) by a short neck.
“He’s a lovely big horse and he’ll push on to Queensland now for a race at Caloundra,” Snowden’s Sydney stable foreman Brad Widdup said.
“He’s a real winner, this horse. He’s still doing a bit wrong but that was a huge effort today.”
The grey son of Lonhro had the widest barrier in the field of 10 and carried topweight of 59kg but showed his class as he raced to his fifth victory from just nine starts.
Jockey Christian Reith worked forward from the bad alley to have Scarf outside the leader in transit.
Entering the straight Scarf ($3.30 fav) quickly dropped the leader She Must Be Obeyed and a despite laying in down the running he pulled out enough to hold off Next The Universe ($11) with three lengths back to Myalla Gold ($13) in third.
Reith believes there is plenty more to come from Scarf who is still learning his craft.
“He’s a very nice horse but he’s still just a big baby and still learning the caper,” Reith said.
“He is a lot better horse sitting a couple of pairs further back than he was today but it was a good effort as he had the outside alley and I had to ride him out of his comfort zone.
“It wasn’t pretty but we got the job done.”
AAP TURF
