A filly trainer Mat Ellerton once feared would never get to the races because of her barrier manners has won back her purchase price and plenty more with a city win at Flemington.
Two-year-old Menage A Charge, a $27,500 yearling, produced a tough on-pace effort in Saturday’s $80,000 Victorian Carbine Club Plate (1000m) at her second start to score by a half neck.
Menage a Charge winning the Victorian Carbine Club Plate at Flemington - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia
Ellerton, who trains in partnership with Simon Zahra, said Menage A Charge ($3.20 fav) had always been a natural runner but problems in the barriers threatened to ruin her racing career before it even began.
“We thought she’d be running in the first two-year-old races and possibly going to Queensland (for the Magic Millions) but she was allergic to the barriers,” Ellerton said.
He said the filly would go in the gates but would “just curl up” when she felt the sides of the stalls.
Ellerton praised Pakenham-based trainer and breaker Julien Welsh who worked on the youngster’s barrier behaviour for around a month and the results were there for all to see at Flemington.
“Julien Welsh has done a fantastic job with her. At one stage I just thought this filly will never race,” Ellerton said.
Menage A Charge wears a custom made barrier blanket.
The filly was slow away on debut at Sandown and flashed home for third but showed her on-speed talent on Saturday to hold off Calcatta ($5.50) with Miss Steele ($4.40) three-quarters of a length away third.
