Promising stayer Kelinni avoided trouble in a messy race at Warwick Farm to give jockey Glyn Schofield a better result on an odds-on favourite than he had at his first attempt on Saturday.
Schofield’s mount Norzita ($1.90) was well beaten in Saturday’s opening event but Kelinni ($1.60) ran out an impressive winner of the TAB Sportsbet Handicap (2200m) beating Peck ($6) by 1-1/4 lengths.
Equal second favourite Our Barney caused problems when he shifted out abruptly rounding the turn into the back straight, bumping into Halfwaytolondon with apprentice Sam Clipperton losing his irons in the incident.
Kelinni was behind the mishap and Schofield steered clear of the trouble.
“There were a few mishaps around the back but I was always in a good spot,” Schofield said.
Trainer Chris Waller said the English import would be nominated for the Group One Metropolitan in October but stressed the five-year-old still had to make improvement.
“He is still learning and he has a long way to go yet,” Waller said.
“Winning helps these sorts of horses gain confidence and he will keep going through the grades.
“He will probably be entered for the Metropolitan but it’s a massive jump.”
While Waller was excited about Kelinni, fellow trainer Guy Walter was considering the future of Our Barney.
“He is a horse renowned for his consistency but he just didn’t seem to want to be here,” Walter said.
“It’s totally out of character and he will definitely be spelled and this may even be the end for him.”
Jockey Kathy O’Hara said Our Barney took her by surprise.
“He kept doing it and just didn’t want to race,” she said.