Second win for Banquo’s Portland
Sunday, it was the Stephen Marsh-trained three-year-old filly who won with authority.
Jumping from barrier four and finding the fence quite nicely under the guidance of apprentice jockey Tayla Mitchell, Banquo‘s three-year-old daughter, Portland (ex City Of Roses), and rider Mitchell lead the field quietly before being challenged for the lead on the turn. It didn’t worry the pair who stretched away over the 1360m trip to win by three-quarters-of-a-length.
Bred by Waikato Stud, she is the first foal of the Savabeel mare City Of Roses, who has been covered by Banquo on three consecutive occasions, before a visit to Ardrossan twice.
Banquo will stand at an increased fee of $5,000 plus GST (live foal guarantee) this season.
The Corner with Garry Chittick
Well, I got a bit behind last week, with Friday slipping by without realising it; hence no Corner. I have said on too many occasions that negative messages are of no help to anyone, and yet there seems so often a reason to be concerned. Clearly, this week the well-constructed Guerin Report on the threatened downgrade of our Group 1 races demands our attention.
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Vale Ohope Wins, Ocean Park’s tough, kind and courageous daughter
Long before her Oaks double, Ohope Wins’ greatest victory belonged to the Waikato Stud staff and Matamata Veterinary Services vets who saved her as a desperately sick foal. Taken far too soon at Caulfield, her remarkable story is theirs too.
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