Warwick Farm trainer Matthew Smith and jockey Brenton Avdulla landed their first winners in Queensland when Hurtle Myrtle scored in the Group Two Dane Ripper Stakes at Eagle Farm.
Hurtle Myrtle ($11), powered home to haul in the leader Zero Rock ($4.60 fav) to score by three-quarters of a length in Saturday’s 1400-metre feature.
Pontiana ($19) was the same margin away third.
Hurtle Myrtle, who won the Group Two Sapphire Stakes (1200m) on a dead Randwick track in April at her third run back from a year off, will now be set for the Group One Tatt’s Tiara (1400m), formerly the Winter Stakes, at Eagle Farm on June 25.
Having his first ride on the daughter of Dane Shadow, Avdulla was full of confidence the mare could win following her fifth in the Listed Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) at Scone on May 14.
“After speaking with Matt before the race we were confident she could win,” Avdulla said.
“Matty was always confident and it’s good a black-type race was my first win up here.”
Avdulla said he was always confident of picking up the leader Zero Rock who controlled the race in front.
“I was confident once I got her into a good position. I just took her through her gears,” he said.
“She’s going to the Winter Stakes now. Bring it on.”
Smith is now reaping the rewards with Hurtle Myrtle after making a brave decision to give her a year off in the paddock early in her career.
“She had a few problems early on with lameness and a lung infection so I gave her a year off,” Smith said.
Hurtle Myrtle’s win took her record to three wins and five placings from 15 starts for prizemoney of more than $400,000, a healthy return on her $55,000 purchase price as a yearling at the Inglis Classic sale.
Smith had no concerns setting Hurtle Myrtle for the Dane Ripper despite her Scone defeat.
“I thought her Scone run was great when she was caught off the track,” Smith said.
“I’ve only ever had three runners in Queensland and it’s a thrill to win this.
“It was a super run and she did the right thing again.”
AAP TURF
