HORSE RACING MORNINGTON-based apprentice jockey Matthew Cartwright kicked off his metropolitan debut in sensational form with a winner from his very first city ride on Wednesday 29 April. Having ridden 32 winners to date in the country, Cartwright was offered the ride aboard the John McArdle-trained Mockery at Sandown and made the most of his opportunity in town. Cartwright, who had already formed a good association with the three-year-old filly having previously ridden her for a win and a second at her last two starts, took up the running in the 1000m sprint and never looked back. The 17-year-old apprentice…
Author: Ben Triandafillou
HORSE RACING JOHN McArdle’s consistent stayer, Themoonlitegambler, has taken another promising step towards the Group One South Australian Derby (2500m) on Saturday 9 May. The three-year-old gelding backed up his solid third placing in the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m) with another gutsy performance in the Group Three Chairman’s Stakes at Morphettville on Saturday 25 April. Having sat outside the lead, jockey Emily Finnegan got going 800m out from home and gave a great sight in the straight before the race-favourite and leading SA Derby contender, Dalasan, gained the lead inside the final 100m. Themoonlitegambler stuck on nicely for second…
HORSE RACING MORNINGTON-based racehorse trainer Tony Noonan has landed a blowout result at Caulfield on Saturday 18 April as his tough filly Florent took out The VOBIS Sires Guineas on the three-day back-up. Having finished fifth over 1400m at Geelong on Wednesday 15 April, the three-year-old daughter of Fiorente stepped out once again over the mile in the Guineas at the odds of $51 before executing Noonan’s long-range plan to perfection. The tough filly had been luckless at her first two starts this prep before landing the dream run in transit on Saturday with the aid of a nice barrier…
HORSE RACING THEMOONLITEGAMBLER is right on track for the South Australian Derby in May for Mornington-based racehorse trainer John McArdle. Despite covering plenty of extra ground in the Listed Dominant Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m) on Saturday 4 April, the three-year-old son of Good Journey (USA) continued to hit the line hard for third place behind last year’s Caulfield Guineas favourite, Dalasan. While Dalasan looked to get the dream run through the field, Themoonlitegambler was caught three-wide with cover for the entire race before turning into the straight five to six-wide. The Mick Huxtable-trained, Perfect Route, held onto second placing but…
HORSE RACING THE Matt Laurie-trained Riddle Me That has topped off an impressive campaign with a narrow but decisive victory in the Listed Bendigo Guineas on Saturday 28 March. The three-year-old son of Deep Field kicked off his preparation in fine form with a dominant victory at Pakenham before having a luckless run at Flemington when posted three-wide the entire trip and still managing to secure second place. The gelding turned the tables on the victor from last start, Spend, with a narrow head victory in the $150,000 Bendigo Guineas. Given the perfect ride from jockey Daniel Stackhouse, the gutsy…