Aonair has foiled Chris Munce’s first trip to Sydney as a trainer by reeling in Lucky Jackson over the latter stages of a staying test at Hawkesbury.
The Chris Waller-trained three-year-old filly secured the second win of her career when claiming the Blakes Marine Handicap (1800m) by a length.
“She’s promised us a lot and it’s taken a while to get this second win under her belt,” said Waller’s racing manager Charlie Duckworth.
“The distance was right and the strong tempo suited her.”
Owned by former New Zealand Test cricketer Terry Jarvis, Aonair is now destined for the spelling paddock.
“In her very early days she’d miss the jump and overdo things. As least she’s racing tractably and doing everything right,” Duckworth said.
Jockey Tye Angland was always confident of saluting on Aonair once the pace quickened.
“I was a little concerned but once the pace was injected from the half-mile it suited me because she was over-racing a fraction,” Angland said.
Munce said it was worthwhile bringing the three-year-old gelding from Eagle Farm for the ATC midweek meeting.
“He ran enormous. He’s never led before but it was no fault of Timmy’s (jockey Tim Clark),” the Melbourne Cup-winning jockey said.
“There was no in speed race and he was probably lost in front.
“It was a good experience for him, he’s had the trip away and he’s handled it all well.”
Angland, who recently claimed his first win in Victoria when Ace High won the Group One Victoria Derby, ultimately posted a treble.
He also guided Godolphin filly Tiki Bar to her first win at the third attempt in the Hawkesbury Hotel Maiden Plate (1300m) as the $2.25 favourite.
Tiki Bar improved on a brace of seconds by beating Moonmo ($21) by a half-length.
Godolphin colt Marble, the $2.10 favourite, completed Angland’s haul when he claimed the Hawkesbury Gazette Handicap (1100m) by three-quarters of a length from The Hipster ($3.80).
