A pair of half-siblings raced by prominent owners Geoff and Mary Grimish are proving handy money-spinners for trainer Mark Newnham.
Invictus Salute, the older half-sister to Newnham’s two-time city-winning youngster Splintex, has landed her first Saturday city win in the Randwick Community Day Handicap (1000m).
Stakes placed at Scone as a juvenile, Invictus Salute raced handy and dug deep when challenged to defeat a courageous Natalia by a nose with Deity another 1-1/4 lengths away.
“She was really tough because she looked beaten on a number of occasions over the last little bit and stuck her head out,” Newnham said.
“She’s been a really consistent filly this prep and hopefully now we’ll just give her a little break and try and get a bit more black-type with her next time in.
“It’s a really good up-and-coming family. Splintex, her half-brother, is a promising colt as well so it’s really good to get a couple of nice horses for Geoff and Mary Grimish.”
The Grimish family also bred Invictus Salute, who is the latest in a long line of winners for them, the best led by Group One performers Red Tracer and Shellscrape.
Earlier in the program, connections of German import Attention Run were rewarded for their patience when the mare made a winning Australian debut in the Nathan’s Famous Handicap (1600m).
On-pace runners Monsieur Sisu and Sweet Victory appeared to have the race between them before Attention Run arrived on the scene late and overhauled the pair.
Trainer Kris Lees said Attention Run had been a work in progress and was suited by a solid speed in Saturday’s race.
“It’s taken us a real long time to get her to the races. She had a few little issues and took a while to settle into the Australian weather and lifestyle,” Lees said.
“She’s come around slowly but surely.
“I thought whatever she did today she’d certainly improve on but she got that really good tempo up front which I think suited her because she probably lacks a real turn of foot.
“When they rolled it gave her a chance to build momentum.”
Attention Run was ridden by apprentice Samantha Clenton who made it a double aboard the Ron Quinton-trained Ljungberg in the Kensington Handicap (1300m).
