Kelly Schweida’s decision to stay in Brisbane with Stella Ombra has capped a winning treble at three racetracks for the trainer while giving jockey Jim Byrne four wins at Doomben.
Schweida entered Stella Ombra for Randwick as well as Doomben but elected to run in Brisbane when he drew a wide barrier in Sydney.
Stella Ombra ($3.80) was given the run of the race by Byrne before winning by a head to the unlucky Tumbler ($4.60).
Schweida won the first race in Sydney with Shogun Sun and also the first at the Gold Coast with promising debutant High Blaze.
“It’s been a good day. You don’t get three winners in a day let alone three in different centres,” he said.
Schweida said Stella Ombra would probably go for a spell but he would see how he came through the run.
Byrne also won on Arrestar ($5), El Campeador ($10) and Pleased ($5).
Trainer Stephen Lee’s confidence with Pleased was boosted when he watched the Randwick races on television earlier in the day.
At his previous start Pleased finished an unlucky fifth behind Care To Think and that galloper scored an easy win at Randwick.
“I got Pleased from a Godolphin dispersal sale and changed the gear around on him,” Lee said.
The Care To Think form also held up when Alassak ($4.60) led all the way to win in smart time of 1.19.05 for 1350m.
“He should have finished closer to Care to Think last start and when he got to the lead early on I was very confident,” trainer Darren Murphy said.
“I think he might win a race like the Eye Liner Stakes next winter.”
Things finally went right for Group Three-placed Havasay when he returned to the metropolitan winners’ list.
Havasay was placed in the Gunsynd Classic and Toowoomba Guineas as a three-year-old but struggled last season.
“He is one of those horses who has had a run of bad barriers and unsuitable tracks,” trainer Liam Birchley said.
