News

Reward For Effort stars in a Randwick trial

27th Mar 2009

Racenet - Clinton Payne - Friday, 27 March 2009

Blue Diamond winner Reward For Effort laid down the Golden Slipper gauntlet to the other contenders with an awesome barrier trial win at Randwick this morning.

The Peter Moody-trained colt covered the 800 metres on the Kensington track in a snappy 45.80 secs and ran his final 600 metres in 32.80 secs [hand timed] to beat another Golden Slipper contender Rostova by a length with the Lee Freedman-trained Adelaide Magic Millions runner-up Rock The Moment five and a half lengths away in third.

Reward for Effort was a scratching from last Saturday’s Todman Slipper Trial after developing slight throat inflammation but showed he was over that small hiccup in the solid hit out.

“He went nice, went nice,” Moody said.

“He got a bit lost on the home turn, he got on his wrong leg a couple of times.

“He had the hit-out that he needed after not having the run last Saturday at this way of going."

Moody was yet to decide on a jockey for his two Slipper runners Reward for Effort and the Sweet Embrace Stakes winner Headwaybut stable jockey Luke Nolen would definitely ride one of the pair with Dwayne Dunn, Craig Newitt and Glen Boss in the running for the ride on the remaining runner.

Moody also praised the performance of the runner-up saying he “thought Rostova trialled superb” and the filly’s trainer Steve Richards said that the trial will bring the VRC Sires winner to her top for next Saturday’s Golden Slipper. “I thought she trialled really well, I couldn’t be happier with her,” Richards said.

“She probably had a little bit more there but the colt did win the trial, I came here expecting her to trial nicely, she’s done pretty well since she’s been here.

“She’ll improve out of sight on that trial and I’m very happy with her.”

Richards said that connections would pay the $150,000 late entry fee to get Rostova into the Golden Slipper today. Earlier in the morning glamour mare Hot Danish proved too good for Light Fantastic from Alamosa back in third in a 1200m barrier trial.

Hot Danish led all the way and jockey Tim Clark said she would be “spot on” for Saturday week’s Group I Queen Of The Turf.

“She trialled terrific,” Clark said.

“She controlled the tempo before Light Fantastic came at her at the furlong and her being her she loves a dog fight and got the better of him over the final stages.

“That will do her the world of good after missing that run in the Coolmore last Saturday.”