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While it may have been a long time between drinks for the extremely talented Better Land, fingers crossed that his victory at Ballarat on Thursday was the confidence booster the son of Shamardal needed to get him back to the level we know he is capable of!

A winner on debut before two narrow efforts behind Scissor Kick in the Listed Rosebud (second) and the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes (fourth), everything hasn’t really not go to plan since.

Now four, trainer Peter Moody elected to give the Inglis Easter yearling purchase almost six months away from the track and after a pleasing length and a half third when resuming, Better Land managed to put it all together at Ballarat when contesting the Sportsbet Watch Live Benchmark 70 over 1400m.

Away well from the middle of the line for jockey Linda Meech, the four-year-old went forward and settled a few lengths off leader Ballinaclash in fourth, with race favourite Satya settled in second.

With the field staying in the same formation for most of the race, Better Land started to make his run once the field rounded the final bend.

Although Meech needed to give Better Land a reminder of why he was there, in the end it was somewhat a soft long neck win from Satya, and fingers crossed for his owners that all appears back on track with the well-bred stallion prospect.

Congratulations to fellow owners; R A Pegum, Laurel Oak Shamrock (Mgr: L J Mihalyka), Ramsey Pastoral Company Pty Ltd (Mgr: S B Ramsey), D J Tamblyn, R S Willis, Mrs J M Tamblyn, D J Tamblyn, R V 8 (Mgr: R V Dulhunty), M R Tudehope, B N E Hastie, M J Forsdick, A N Fitzgerald, Rdfit Pty Ltd (Mgr: S C Cook) and A W Reichard, as well as trainer Peter Moody and jockey Linda Meech.

To watch a reply of the victory, click the below image.

Despite the small field of just six runners, apprentice Jye McNeil struck peak hour traffic aboard Anaphora by running in dead ends throughout the Caulfield straight. But with the post looming, the flashy chestnut burst through the smallest of gaps to pinch a last stride victory for Mornington-based trainer Tony Noonan.

So disastrous did the situation appear, stable representative Jack Turnbull was forewarned he was being broadcast live on national television when asked for his thoughts on the final 100m.

“She just kept running into traffic that I didn’t think she was even going to run a place,” Turnbull said.

But when the photo finish flashed up on the big screen, the mounting yard erupted into cheers of jubilation for the large ownership group managed by stable client Laurel Oak Bloodstock.

“It’s great to have so many owners on course today.

“Most of them have been with us for a long time but there’s a few new faces. It’s just great to see so many people have a good day at the races.”

Settling towards the tail of the field, the 4-year-old Dylan Thomas mare traveled kindly for McNeil who had the benefit of galloping the mare earlier in the week.

As the small field bunched upon straightening, McNeil looked to shift to the outside before being boxed in by Yellen.

Switching back to the inside, McNeil’s inside gap closed as Defrost My Heart shifted in but with further persistence, Anaphora bullocked her way through the small gap.

Running out of tarmac with the post approaching, McNeil gave himself just 30m to run down the leader once in the clear with Anaphora ($2.80F) charging late with her head down and ears pricked to claim victory in the three-way go from Yellen ($3.10) and Prepee ($26) in third.

The third win of Anaphora’s career took her earnings beyond $150,000.

Congratulations to owners Grant Bloodstock Pty Ltd Synd, Laurel Oak Bloodstock Pty Ltd Synd, Four Up Synd, A Fitzgerald, Club Number One Synd, P & Mrs J Macbeth, M Mannix, R Spargo, P Atley, B Marotta, R Lloyd, D Russell, Miss E Morrissey and Mrs E Grant.

News courtesy of Tony Noonan Racing

From a Friday night win at Canterbury to a Saturday at Royal Randwick on Boxing Day – Sir Bacchus is really stepping up!

Away well from the gates for jockey Rory Hucthings in the McGrath Estate Agents Handicap (1200m), the Chris Waller-trained Sir Bacchus settled nicely in fifth position on the outside of the Peter and Paul Snowden trained Barood, a full brother to Group 1 winner Starspangledbanner.

With the Gai Waterhouse-trained race favourite River Wild taking up the running, the pace was true from the get go and Sir Bacchus continued to travel where he was comfortable in the run.

As the field cornered into the home straight and River Wild appeared under pressure Barood went up along the inside while Sir Bacchus came out wide to make their runs.

Hitting the lead together with about 150m to go, it was clear from the hands and heels urging of Hutchings that Sir Bacchus had more to offer than his challenger, pulling away for a comfortable, and in the end, impressive half-length victory.

Still only lightly raced with four runs under his belt, the Sebring gelding has improved at each and every start, recording two wins and a second and over $110,000 in earnings.

Purchased from the Magic Millions yearling sale from the draft of Widden Stud for $130,000, Sir Bacchus is eligible to head to the lucrative $2 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas next start with Waller weighing up his options.

Congratulations to the winning connections of Sir Bacchus; Laurel Oak Bacchus (Mgr: L J Mihalyka) F Cook, K Lowe, Mrs M Lowe, Club Bacchus (Mgr: L J Mihalyka), Dirty Grey (Mgr: M Mulligan), A Reichard, J O’Brien, Grant Bloodstock (Mgr: S Grant), M Powell, N Macdonald, Mrs R Richards, Mrs C Cook, Mrs E Grant and Boeara Holdings (Mgr: Mrs D Dunphy).

We were slightly unlucky not to make it a hat trick of wins on the day with both Anaphora and Ring Da Belle both finishing second at Caulfield in runs where luck was not on their side!

An honest second when making his seasonal debut last time out, also at Canterbury, three-year-old Sebring gelding Sir Bacchus produced a top class effort to break his maiden at just his third start.

Away well from the gates, Sir Bacchus drifted back in the field and although needing to be pulled off the heels of those in front of him a few times, and appearing to resist being restrained slightly, he still raced where he was comfortable over the 1100m.

With only two behind him in the run, it appeared as if the Chris Waller-trained runner was in trouble, but as the home turn was reached, jockey Rory Hutchings was able to find some room, and the Magic Millions graduate surged through the gap to take the lead and record a soft win in the end.

Scoring by a half-length margin from fellow Sebring gelding Supply And Demand, Sir Bacchus was purchased by Laurel Oak Bloodstock from the draft of Widden Stud for $130,000. Bred by David O’Keefe’s Lockyer Thoroughbreds, Sir Bacchus is the first foal of his stakes-winning Encosta de Lago mare Bacchanal Woman.

Congratulations to his owners; Laurel Oak Bacchus, Boeara Holdings, Mr F W Cook, Grant Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Dirty Grey, Mr K R Lowe, Mrs M P Lowe, Mr A W Reichard, Mr J T O’brien, Club Bacchus, Mr M W Powell, Mr N Macdonald, Mrs R H Richards, Mrs C M Cook and Mrs E K Grant – it looks like we have a very promising horse on our hands.