KERRY Parker came within a pinch of landing a home track double with a pair of lightly-raced mares on Saturday.
And both the Kembla Grange trainer’s “girls” were at double figure odds.
After four-year-old Audenzia ($15) gave backers of the $1.30 hotpot Wexford Miss one hell of a fright in the F&M Maiden Handicap (1400m) before going under in the tightest of finishes, five-year-old mare Let’s Go Again ($19) made it two wins in a row in the Provincial Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m).
A well-named daughter of dual city winner Numbers, Let’s Go Again (by Turffontein) was having only her fourth start and is now unbeaten at both runs since resuming.
Ridden by Lee Magorrian, she defeated $3.90 equal favorite Mogul Monarch and $10 chance Los Padres.
Let’s Go Again won a Moruya Maiden Plate (920m) on September 17 on resumption, and Parker wasn’t concerned about testing her against provincial company.
“Whilst it was only a short race at Moruya, she was three and four wide and did a terrific job to win there,” he said on Sunday.
“She is tough and enjoys running, and took the step up to provincial grade in her stride.
“Phillip Gannon, who owns the mare’s dam, rang me from Queensland after the Kembla Grange race and was really pleased.”
The late Kembla Grange trainer Mick Tubman trained Numbers, and won four races with her; two at home and two in Sydney.
“Let’s Go Again came to me out of the paddock as an unraced four-year-old and had two runs in autumn this year,” Parker said.
“She went out after finishing second in a Maiden Plate (1200m) at Moruya in late May.”
Audenzia is a daughter of Brazen Beau and the Helmet mare Metallic Spark, and was having only her second start.
She had not raced since a debut seventh over 1500m at Kembla Grange in April against her own sex when a $91 outsider.
“I gave her a chance on Saturday when quite a few scratchings reduced the field to only five runners,” Parker said.
“Audenzia won a 900m trial at Nowra earlier in the week, and I felt the soft ground would help her.
“She ran right up to her trial, and tried really hard.
“Audenzia lost her action a bit in the trial but was much better in the race.
“She is still pretty raw and will take good improvement from this outing. I’m sure she will appreciate eventually getting over further ground.”
Meanwhile, Parker’s last start Royal Randwick winner Well Timed is due back in the stable on Tuesday.
“I sent him out after he won last Saturday week for a short break,” Parker said.
“All going well, he will have his next start at The Everest meeting at Randwick on October 19 in a Benchmark 88 Handicap (1400m).
The RacingNSW handicapping panel lifted Well Timed five benchmark points to 79 for his latest victory.
. Kembla Grange trainer Mitch Beer and Newcastle jockey Blake Spriggs continued their successful association by scoring again with This Is The Moment at the meeting.
A well supported $2.45 favorite, This Is The Moment scored a dogged win in the Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (1600m).
In an all-Kembla Grange finish, This Is The Moment defeated Brett Lazzarini’s Prince Aurelius ($14) and Parker’s So Sharp ($7).
Beer and Spriggs had teamed with the five-year-old gelding to land a Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m) at home a fortnight earlier.
Story John Curtis, September 29, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
Comments