Visiting Melbourne apprentice Ibrahim Gundogdu kept his momentum going in Sydney with victory on stakeswinning filly Gybe at Rosehill on Saturday.
On loan to Rosehill trainer Gerald Ryan, 23-year-old Gundogdu made an immediate impact at his first ride at last Saturday’s Rosehill meeting and he notched his second victory in as many weeks when Gybe ($4 fav) held a narrow advantage on the line in the Steggles Handicap (1200m).
The 2009 Gimcrack Stakes winner scored by a short head over Storm Kite ($6) with a neck to the well-backed Othello ($5.50) in third place.
“I’m definitely enjoying the weather better than Melbourne,” Gundogdu said.
“It’s kicking along nicely here and it looks like I’m getting the opportunities and I’m trying to make the most of it.
“Today I had seven rides, only two were for Gerald and five were outside rides so it’s good to be getting opportunities.”
The Anthony Cummings-trained Gybe settled just behind the two leaders in the 1200m contest and after enjoying a perfect run in transit Gundogdu elected to peel out before the turn to make his move.
The three-year-old daughter of Fastnet Rock was forced to work hard to get the better of the leader Othello and then fought gamely to hold off the late run of Storm Kite.
Gybe has now won her past two starts and stable foreman Barry Smith believes the talented filly has turned the corner in her career.
“It’s probably the first time she’s been able to put a few runs together so it gives us a chance to get her fit,” Smith said.
“She likes a little bit of give in the track, it was a good ride and a good effort.
“She won the Gimcrack as a two-year-old then she had a few problems but it looks like she’s back in good order again.
“Hopefully this might be the start of something better for her.”
AAP TURF