Smart colt Let’s Party Marty could be given his chance in the Group One Caulfield Guineas after his debut win at Doomben.
Despite a brilliant trial win in July, Let’s Party Marty drifted to $12 but led all the way to beat Snitz ($19) by 1-1/2 lengths in the three-year-old handicap on Saturday.
I’m Impinge ($3.30) was a short half-head further back in third.
Trainer David Vandyke said Let’s Party Marty could be a stakes-class horse.
“I was even thinking about gelding him but I think we might have a Group horse so I didn’t go ahead with it,” Vandyke said.
He said he would throw in a nomination for the Group One Caulfield Guineas in October “but he has been in work for a while and I don’t want to overtax him”.
Let’s Party Marty is the first horse bred and raced by owner Sharon Harris.
Jockey Damian Browne was rewarded for a week of dieting when Oink ($1.70) won the Class 6 Plate (1350m).
Browne usually rides at 56kg but aimed to get down to 54.5kg, which was the lightest he had ridden this year.
He rode Oink to an unlucky second at his previous start and told trainer Kelly Schweida he wanted to ride the gelding in his next start.
Browne produced a top-class ride to steer Oink home 1-1/2 lengths in front of Dee Nine Elle ($17).
“I just watched what I ate and did some extra walking and exercise. I was keen to ride Oink because he is raced by the family and friends of (the late jockey) Tim Bell,” Browne said.
“I had no luck on him at his previous run and I wanted to make up for it.”
However, the effort told and Browne was stood down from riding his remaining two mounts.
Oink is likely to be given a rest before the summer carnival.
The win gave Schweida a double after Stella Ombra won the benchmark-90.
Another Eagle Farm trainer, John Meagher, also had gained a double when Meet And Greet ($3.90) won the benchmark-75.
Meet and Greet, owned by Brisbane Race Club chairman Neville Bell, was also entered for the 2040m open handicap but Meagher elected to go with the benchmark race.
“I have every confidence he will make a very good mile-and-a-half horse as he matures,” Meagher said.
On a day of doubles, Toowoomba trainer Tony Sears had two winners with Bonsho ($3) and Tycoon Ace ($15), who are owned by breeder John Harvey and his family.
