South Australian trainer Lloyd Kennewell has continued his success in Magic Millions-sponsored races with La Pomme De Pin streeting her rivals in the Clockwise Classic at Ballarat.
The only race run right-handed in Victoria, Saturday’s Magic Millions Clockwise Classic turned into a one-horse race for La Pomme De Pin after she flew the barriers in the 1000m sprint.
Saturday’s victory adds to previous Magic Millions success in Adelaide and the Gold Coast, although the biggest one, the Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic on the Gold Coast, has so far eluded the trainer.
Kennewell was the underbidder on last year’s Gold Coast winner Houtzen.
“I think I was $2500 or $5000 short,” Kennewell said.
“I was in the car on the way to airport with the owner next to me and he said there’s a hundred of them so don’t worry about it.”
Ridden by Joe Bowditch, La Pomme De Pin ($5) scored by 5-1/2 lengths from Anthemoessa ($16), with the $4 favourite Our Toninicconi, 1-1/4 lengths away in third.
Kennewell felt the race was over after La Pomme De Pin 50m after the start.
“She’s a natural and we always made our intentions clear to lead and after 50 metres she was Black Caviar odds,” Kennewell said.
“She’s done a great job to get to this stage.
“She had one jump-out before her first-up defeat and she’s really come on since.
“It’s great to get a winner for Yarraman Park and for Santo Guagliardo who’ll be watching at home in Perth and we may have another run on the Gold Coast in a couple of months.”
Named after an Italian restaurant in St Tropez, La Pomme De Pin was bought for $85,000 at the Adelaide Magic Millions Sale in March.
Bowditch said the job now was to teach the filly to settle.
“Her biggest attribute today was her speed and we used that early but she’d had enough on the line though,” Bowditch said.
“Going the reverse way it’s a bit of an uphill run. Even though it’s only 1000 metres, it’s a tough 1000 metres.”
