Challenge Stakes (G2)
Three-year-old filly Villa Verde scored a good first-up win in this Group Two event for new trainer Anthony Cummings. She was nicely away and James McDonald eased her to settle fifth, one off the rails, following a solid early pace (22.97 first 400m). She was blocked on straightening, eased across heels on passing the 300m and finished well, to score by half a length, from a quality field of sprinters. Snitzerland, the favourite, was caught three wide without cover from her barrier (8) and worked most of the way to the turn. She briefly got to the lead passing the 100m and then fought on for a game second after a difficult trip. Famous Seamus was last on the rails to the turn. He got a split between runners at the 200m and finished surprisingly well for a very good third. Bel Sprinter was second last in the ten-horse field to the 600m. He switched wide at the 300m and made good ground for fourth. Whittington raced outside the leader and held on particularly well after a hard run for one and half lengths fifth, Sessions made ground for sixth while Buffering ($3.25) led to the final 100m before tiring late for seventh, beaten a length and three quarters, after being pressured in the lead. *ANZ
Previous Winners
| Date | Horse | Jockey | WT | Trainer | BP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
SNITZERLAND
(AUS)
3F SNITZEL (AUS) - MONTE ROSA (AUS) FRAAR (USA) |
C W BROWN | 54.0 | GERALD RYAN | 9 |
|
|
RAIN AFFAIR
(AUS)
4G COMMANDS (AUS) - I BELIEVE (AUS) OCTAGONAL (NZ) |
C W BROWN | 58.5 | JOSEPH PRIDE | 3 |
|
|
HAY LIST
(AUS)
5G STATUE OF LIBERTY (USA) - SING HALLELUJAH (AUS) IS IT TRUE (USA) |
G SCHOFIELD | 58.5 | JOHN MCNAIR | 1 |
|
|
DE LIGHTNING RIDGE
(AUS)
4M TALE OF THE CAT (USA) - NANNY MAROON (AUS) ALQUOZ (USA) |
G SCHOFIELD | 56.5 | JOSEPH PRIDE | 5 |
|
|
OLONANA
(AUS)
3F MORE THAN READY (USA) - ARKADINA (AUS) MYOCARD (NZ) |
TIM CLARK | 54.0 | JOHN O'SHEA | 7 |
|
|
HURRIED CHOICE
(AUS)
3F CHOISIR (AUS) - HUSTLE BUSTLE (AUS) CATRAIL (USA) |
J LLOYD | 53.5 | DAVID PAYNE | 3 |
|
|
SPARK OF LIFE
(AUS)
6G NINE CARAT (USA) - SPARKLING BOUNTY (AUS) CELSIUS (AUS) |
Z PURTON | 58.5 | ALLAN DENHAM | 9 |
|
|
SNITZEL
(AUS)
3C REDOUTE'S CHOICE (AUS) - SNIPPETS' LASS (AUS) SNIPPETS (AUS) |
C NEWITT | 55.5 | GERALD RYAN | 11 |
|
|
IMPALER
(AUS)
4G DRACULA (AUS) - CATECOMBE (AUS) PAPAL POWER (USA) |
DALE SPRIGGS | 57.5 | DAVID ATKINS | 6 |
|
|
STAR OF FLORIDA
(AUS)
4G TELESTO (NZ) - TRY IT ON (AUS) SNAADEE (USA) |
P PAYNE | 57.5 | PAT DUFF | 9 |
|
|
STAR OF FLORIDA
(AUS)
3G TELESTO (NZ) - TRY IT ON (AUS) SNAADEE (USA) |
P PAYNE | 55.5 | PAT DUFF | 5 |
|
|
BOMBER BILL
(AUS)
6G AIR DE FRANCE (USA) - LADY SPECIAL (AUS) ALZAO (USA) |
DAMIEN OLIVER | 57.5 | RUSSELL CAMERON | 1 |
|
|
PIMPALA PRINCE
(AUS)
7G YALLAH PRINCE (AUS) - PLAY OUR SONG (IRE) PERSIAN BOLD (IRE) |
S TREWEEK | 57.5 | GORDON YORKE | 1 |
|
|
EASY ROCKING
(AUS)
3C BARATHEA (IRE) - TWIGLET (AUS) TWIG MOSS (FR) |
D BEADMAN | 54.5 | R J QUINTON | 11 |
