Apprentice James Orman has produced a perfect ride to win his first stakes race on a horse which cost only $2000.
Orman sent Sold For Song ($9) along the rails in the straight to beat La Dolce Vita ($9) by 1-1/4 lengths in the $100,000 Listed Gold Edition Plate at Doomben on Saturday.
Sold For Song
It was the centre pin of a long day for Orman who is leading the metropolitan and Queensland senior riders’ premierships.
He had earlier gone to the Gold Coast to ride his mother Carline Allardyce’s horse General Cos who was unplaced in a two-year-old race.
Orman then headed back to Doomben before going to Toowoomba on Saturday night for a couple of rides.
Trainer Kevin Kemp was so excited he admitted he could barely breath after the win.
“This horse cost only $2000 at the Magic Millions sales for a group of cattle breeders from western Queensland,” he said.
“But we didn’t pay up for the Millions races. I mean you pay $2000 for a horse you don’t expect to get a shot at the million-dollar races.”
“But I wonder if they will give us another go at paying up,” Kemp said.
He said he would now have a good look at the three-year-old races available for Sold For Song in Queensland and interstate before making a decision on a next start.
Sold For Song has won two and been an unlucky second at her three race starts.
“She was unlucky when second at Doomben last start but a few others in the race were also unlucky. I was expecting her to run well from barrier one provided she had some luck,” Kemp said.
“James produced a $100,000 ride to get the money as he got up inside La Dolce Vita and that made the difference.”
Orman said he had been deciding whether to try to go around La Dolce Vita who was leading on the turn.
“But Tegan Harrison on Most Important kept me in so I went up on the inside and got the run through,” Orman said.
“It was a great way to ride my first stakes winner,” he added.
