News

Governance earns crack at Group 1 glory

6th May 2009

*AAP Racing - Russell Jackson - Wednesday, 6 May 2009

Governance (pictured) earned a crack at Group One glory in Brisbane after his win at Canterbury on Wednesday, a day when $3 million yearling purchase Mount Olympus failed to run a place at his long-awaited debut.

The Peter Snowden-trained Governance will be aimed at the Group Two Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on May 30 before the Group One TJ Smith (1600m) at the same track a week later.

Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, the two-year-old got out late in the straight but had enough time to wind up and defeat Strategic Impact by a short head in the opening race of the day, the Freeway Hotel Artarmon Handicap (1250m).

It was the Flying Spur colt's first win after he ran second on debut at Canterbury on April 22.

"He's booked a trip to Brisbane for the Sires and TJ," Snowden said.

"This track is a bit tight for him because he is such a big-striding horse, so it was a good effort.

"We decided to bypass the Sydney carnival in favour of the longer winter races up there and he'll thrive over the mile (1600m)."

Stablemate Khas Kura gave Snowden a race-to-race double when the juvenile won the Freeway Republic Beer Handicap (1250m) with Corey Brown aboard but the trainer said the Lonhro colt would not head to Queensland.

"He's a bit immature so we'll give him a break and bring him back for the spring," Snowden said.

The Gai Waterhouse-trained Mount Olympus, who was purchased at the 2007 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, was upstaged in the Freeway Hotel Brasserie Handicap (1550m) by a horse who cost $50,000, Readily.

Three-year-old Mount Olympus, a Rock Of Gibraltar colt, was fractious in the gates but jumped on terms and travelled just off the speed for most of the race.

He was tiring in the closing stages when the Anthony Cummings-trained Readily came with a barnstorming run to defeat $3.20 favourite Mysterious Light by a nose with Mount Olympus ($9) sixth.

Out of the Secretariat mare L'on Vite, Mount Olympus finished just under two lengths from the winner and jockey Blake Shinn was pleased with the performance from the expensive colt.

"He went good," Shinn said.

"He can only improve fitness-wise and will appreciate a bigger track and more distance."