Darley sprinter Mental has signed off from Australian racing with a Group One win in the $1 million Patinack Farm Classic at Flemington.
Mental, trained by Peter Snowden, will be one of seven horses from Australia to join Sheikh Mohammed’s famous Godolphin operation.
Mental winning the Patinack Farm Classic at Flemington - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia
“This was going to be his swansong,” Snowden said.
“He’s delivered for us today so he’s going (overseas) a winner in our best company.”
With Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle, Mental sat in the middle of pack and tracked his Manikato Stakes conqueror Sea Siren into the race.
They gained control at the 300m mark and, after a brief struggle, Mental forged clear for a decisive victory.
Sea Siren, a contender for next month’s Hong Kong Sprint, held down second place with Hallowell Belle making late ground to take the minor placing.
McEvoy said Mental, now a seven-time winner from 12 starts, would do well under the Godolphin banner.
“He’s got a great turn of foot so you never know he might win a good sprint over there in Europe somewhere,” McEvoy said.
Among the unplaced division was the Queensland star Buffering.
Buffering raced solo on the grandstand side of the track but was a beaten horse when Mental and Sea Siren made their bids.
