News

Classic Graduate White Hot In Wet Salinger

30th Oct 2010

Whitefriars had long promised to win a good race and that came to fruition today when he proved too good in the Flemington mud in the Group 2 Salinger Stakes.

The Rick Worthington trained WHITEFRIARS ($80,000 2007 Classic, 5g Arena-Alsatia) was coming off a track record breaking win in the Listed Lightning at Randwick but showed his adaptability in handling the heavy conditions at Flemington.

“The key with this horse is we gelded him, we turned him out for about four and five months in a pretty rough paddock,” Worthington said.

“A couple of times I went down through the winter to visit him and he'd walk up to me as if to say ‘can I come in'.

“The plan was that if we could perform to what we expected today he'll go to Western Australia and have a look at the Winterbottom.”

A graduate of Lomar Park Stud, Whitefriars ran second in the San Domenico Stakes as a three-year-old, but for a long time failed to live up to his true ability.

Now he has won three of his past four starts and his earnings top $400,000.

Inglis graduates opened up Derby Day on a winning note when bargain weanling purchase Mr Chard romped home in the Group 3 Inglis Carbine Club Stakes.

MR CHARD ($2500 2008 Australian Select Weanling, 3c Al Samer-Najar) was purchased out of the Emirates Park draft and followed his Listed success at Caulfield with this even more important victory.

The Carbine Club was run before the deluge arrived and trainer Dean Lawson attributed the firmer track to the impressive winning performance.

“He just won the other day at Caulfield because he never let his head go through the heavy going and we knew he had a better kick on him on top of the ground and he showed it today,” Lawson said.

“If he pulls up really well and he's bouncing out of his skin on Tuesday we'll look at the Sandown Guineas, but I'm keen to put him away and get him ready for the autumn. Have a run or two here then get him up to Sydney.”