HORSE RACING IT was a day to remember for Mornington-based trainer Matt Laurie and the Pinecliff, Mt Eliza-based partnership of Anthony and Sam Freedman as they rose to the fore in two of the three Group One features at Caulfield on Saturday 20 February. Bypassing a winnable Group Three Zeditave Stakes (1200m) on the same day, Matt Laurie masterfully pulled the right string by running his up-and-coming three-year-old colt Portland Sky in the Group One Oakleigh Plate (1100m). Utilising his natural speed and his allocated light-weight of 50kg, apprentice jockey Teodore Nugent shot clear aboard Portland Sky half way down…
Author: Ben Triandafillou
HORSE RACING SHANE Nichols’ gutsy galloper Streets of Avalon has dug deep to bring up his second Group One victory in Saturday’s C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield. Having claimed the Group One Futurity Stakes over the same track and trip a year ago, Streets of Avalon once again fought hard to fend off the challenges and land a half-length victory over the Chris Waller-trained Imaging in Saturday’s feature race. There was a roar on course as jockey Zac Spain saluted aboard the gelding to ride his first Group One winner and bring up Mornington-based trainer Shane Nichols’ third Group…
HORSE RACING MATT Laurie’s promising sprinter Portland Sky has made amends for his unsuccessful trip to Queensland with an all-the-way victory in the $160,000 Group Three Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Having finished at the back of the field in the Group Three Vo Rogue Stakes (1400m) at his only run in Queensland in January, Portland Sky bounced back into form at Caulfield to land a three-quarters of a length victory. The three-year-old son of Deep Field held off the challenges of some talented gallopers with the Caulfield Guineas runners-up Aysar and last year’s Blue Diamond Stakes winner…
HORSE RACING MORNINGTON-based trainer Matt Laurie had a week to remember after saddling up four winners and a second placing from five runners last week. Laurie kicked off the week with a winner at Mornington on Tuesday 15 December as American Saint broke through to win her maiden at start number five. He then followed up the success with a winning double at Yarra Valley on Friday as Yulong Island and Jenni Express also removed their maiden tags in comfortable fashion. Heading to The Valley on Friday night, the resuming Malicorne brought up the stables fourth straight winner with a…
HORSE RACING MORNINGTON-based trainers David and Coral Feek have continued their successful raid on Sydney racing with their gutsy gelding I Am Vinnie. Bringing up his third victory at Randwick and remaining unbeaten in New South Wales, I Am Vinnie proved too good for his opposition to win the $125,000 Fujitsu General Handicap (1400m) by a length on Saturday 12 December. Despite being pocketed with 300m to run, jockey Jake Noonan navigated a clear passage aboard the gelding to overhaul his rivals and skip away to score a one length victory over the Kris Lees-trained Juventus. Co-trainer David Feek said…