Serene Tanie led all the way at Caulfield on Saturday to win her second race since Talia Rodder’s controversial front running ride on the mare at Moonee Valley last month.
Rodder was suspended for six weeks on a running and handling charge on Serene Tanie but last week had that overturned on appeal which trainer Robbie Laing described as “a great decision”.
Serene Tanie winning the Rose Ritchie Plate at Caulfield - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia
Saturday’s Ros Ritchie Plate was Serene Tanie’s first test at 1800 metres and jockey Chris Symons defied orders to take a sit on the mare and got her home a short neck ahead of Our Pride And Joy and Mayneda Strategy.
He rode a similar race to win on the mare by leading leading all the way over 1600 metres at Moonee Valley on November 25.
Laing said he told Symons to try to have Serene Tanie second or third in the run as she was suspect at the distance but Symons said the only way to ride the mare was to lead.
“When he legged me on he tried to fill me with that many instructions I just said I will ride where she is comfortable and he said all right,” Symons said.
“That is what I did, and like I did last start.
“That is how you’ve got to ride this horse.
“You’ve just got to go with her like Talia did, like I did at Moonee Valley and again here today.”
“The only difference today and last start is that I got left alone and that’s when you can get cheap sectionals and that’s what won me the race.
“Today I put pressure on at the half mile and quickened up.
“She was running pretty quick sectionals from the 600 (metres) but she is fit. It was a big effort from her.”
Laing said Symons summed up the race well but admitted he was concerned when he led from the outside barrier.
“I was but worried after they went 400 and he was leading by a neck,” Laing said.
“I thought, ‘oh my god what’s he doing’ but she has got a good cruising speed and obviously has improved.
“She had them off the bit before the corner and just kept going.”
AAP TURF
