A rank outsider has given Canberra trainer Philip Courtney his first city winner.
Maryore ($21) swooped late to defeat $1.80 favourite Kent in the Ranvet’s Salkavite Handicap at Canterbury on Wednesday.
Courtney said he would never forget training his first city winner.
“It’s exciting for the stable,” Courtney said.
“We’ve got ten horses in work and we’re just starting out so it’s good to get a win in town.
“It’s a big thing for us and it’s great for the owners who’ve supported me.”
Maryore drifted from $15 to $21 before the race but Courtney was confident she would run well.
“We thought she could give them a bit of a run for their money today she was a little bit underestimated,” Courtney said.
Courtney said he was impressed by her first-up performance on a heavy Warwick Farm when fourth.
“I thought she was a bit better than where we train so I thought we’ll just come straight to town with her,” he said.
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy said the former South Australian mare could target a longer race.
“Hopefully she can just poke around in the midweeks and find another race over a little bit further,” McEvoy said.
A drop in class has paid off for Godolphin mare Painted Firetail as she won the TAB Rewards Handicap (1250m).
In what shaped as a strong midweek race, Painted Firetail ($4.60) was too good, winning by a length from Aaralyn ($13), a sibling of Golden Rose contender Derryn, and $3.20 favourite Faith’s Encore.
Painted Firetail’s previous start was in the Group Three P J Bell Stakes at Randwick in April when she was 12th.
“She’s always been a talented filly and she spelled well this time and came back really well and hopefully it reflects in her performance, ” trainer John O’Shea said.
“She just lost her way last prep and didn’t spell that well coming out of the winter. She’s done better this time.”
Jockey James McDonald said Painted Firetail was his only ride that handled the surface which was in “poor order”.
Brenton Avdulla told stewards jockeys were struggling to get traction on their mounts.
The Canterbury track now gets a break until October 5.
