Leading trainer Peter Moody will try to get nicely-bred staying filly Grenada Road to the Group One Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm in June following her win at Sandown.
A $450,000 purchase at the 2009 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Grenada Road is a half-sister to Moody’s 2001 Victoria Derby winner Amalfi and was bred by the famed Trelawney Stud in New Zealand.
Raced by Limerick Lane Syndicate managed by Melbourne Cup-winning owner Gerry Ryan, Grenada Road is still in her initial racing preparation and made it two straight wins from four starts in Wednesday’s The Cove Hotel Hcp (1600m).
Ridden by leading apprentice Jake Noonan, the Encosta De Lago filly, backed from $10 to start at $7.50, finished strongly to collar race leader Jalsah ($13) right on the line with Catgotyourtongue ($12) close-up third.
“We thought she’d be looking for a 2000-metre race today and we were hoping the rain would stretch the race out and that’s the way it panned out,” Moody said.
“The leaders got tired and she was the strongest on the line.”
Moody made it a winning double in successive races when Elvstroem mare Deliver The Dream ($5.50) revelled in the ground to win the Betfair Hcp (1400m) after which the track was downgraded to a heavy (9).
Noonan made it a winning double aboard the Greg Eurell-trained Braided General ($3.80 fav) in the Le Pine Funerals Hcp (1000m).
Earlier, Rusticated astounded trainer John Sadler when he came again after looking beaten to win his second straight race at Sandown.
Sent out $2.60 favourite in the Rokk Ebony Hcp (2400m), Rusticated, handled by Craig Williams, was under heavy pressure on the home turn in the going but picked up in the closing stages to win comfortably.
The Carnegie five-year-old had three-quarters of a length to spare over Mr Riggs ($21), who ran on from last, with Martial Law ($4.60) a length away third.
“That was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen with one of my horses,” Sadler said.
“I said to Brent (assistant trainer Brent Stanley) `he can’t lift his legs’ and I was kicking myself for running him.
“I looked away and Brent said `he’s coming again’ and when I looked back I thought `what’s going on here’.”
Sadler said the gelding looked the first horse beaten at the 1000m at his previous start over 2100m at Sandown, also on a heavy track, but on that occasion also fought back strongly to win narrowly.
“I’d really like to take him to Warrnambool for the Cup, probably with a big query whether he’s good enough,” the Flemington-based trainer said.
The Listed $150,000 Warrnambool Cup (2350m) is on May 5.
AAP TURF
