Trainer Stuart Kendrick ended the day with a half smile after promising three-year-old Thief Of Hearts earned a Melbourne trip at Doomben on Saturday.
Kendrick’s other runner in the Goulburn Valley Handicap, Hazard Bay, was a late scratching after tossing jockey Glen Colless on the way to the barriers.
Colless was taken to hospital with a broken nose and fractured jaw, delaying the race by 30 minutes.
“It is a funny game. I have been through the lot in the past 30 minutes,” Kendrick said.
Thief Of Hearts ($4) led all the way to win in smart time but Kendrick was also thinking of Hazard Bay and Colless.
“Hazard Bay is a nice horse as well and we wanted to get an idea of where he was at today. But the main thing is that Glen is OK,” he said.
Thief Of Hearts is entered for the Group One Caulfield Guineas but Kendrick said it was more likely his ultimate Melbourne mission would be the Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington.
Experienced Group One jockey Damian Browne said Thief Of Hearts would not be out of place in Melbourne.
Meanwhile, smart sprinter Final Crescendo ($5.50) is also probably off to Melbourne after winning the Powerade Handicap (1200m).
Trainer David Kelly wasn’t at Doomben but is keen to take Final Crescendo south for the Group Two Gilgai Stakes on October 4.
Winning jockey Michael Cahill said Final Crescendo would need to improve slightly to be a chance in Melbourne.
“But he is a nice horse and he took the run along the fence at the right time. He would need to improve but not much,” Cahill said.
Trainer Rob Heathcote finally had a smile after Jopa ($7) came from well back to win the Jim Beam Handicap (1350m).
“It had been a bit of a dirty day with a few of better chances getting beaten. But Jopa is the most consistent horse in the stable,” Heathcote said.
