May 2012

Flying Spur gelding, Flying Bentley, broke his maiden status in fine style at Canberra this afternoon.

Flying Bentley began well but was in an awkward position early, before jockey Kevin Sweeney was able to slot in one off the rails three pairs back, and Flying Bentley travelled well.

Approaching the turn, Kevin gave the big chestnut room, and he moved into the race entering the straight and looked a danger.

In the straight, Flying Bentley, gradually wore down the leaders and came away for a convincing win despite not recording a huge winning margin.

Flying Bentley has had an interrupted career due to a serious leg injury that required a long rest in the paddock. We hope that the patience his owners have shown will now start to be repaid the further he heads into the preparation.

Laurel Oak and the all conquering Peter Moodystable combined at Cranbourne this afternoon to take out the 1400m 2yo Maiden with Holy Roman Emperor gelding Swift Succession.

Ridden well by Noel Callow, Swift Succession, dictated terms throughout the race and despite being challenged down the straight he fought back to win by the barest of margins. Thanks to the vigorous riding of Noel Callow!!

Swift Succession has shown above average ability at home but his immaturity has kept him from showing that ability on raceday.

Today’s win capped off a terrific preparation from Swift Succession which resulted in a win and a second from 3 outings.

This gelding has shown tremendous improvement with each raceday outing and with a break under his belt we are confident he will continue to improve. He is one to follow.

Vilakazi Street showed he is “Mr Consistency” when he put up a mighty effort, but came up one short, in this afternoon’s Wagga Town Plate, finishing second to classy Melbourne sprinter, Andamon.

Yet again, a fruitful barrier gave Vilakazi Street the perfect run in transit, and after sitting midfield off a cracking speed, he was able to rail up entering the straight and was in a challenging position.

Passing the 300m Kevin Sweeney switched Vilakazi Street across the leader’s heels, took the lead, and looked set for victory.

Unfortunately, the race tempo meant the swoopers were coming late but only one was fast enough to go past Vilakazi Street in the shadows of the post.

It was a gallant effort from Vilakazi Street and took his preparation record to 7 starts for 3 wins and 4 placings and amassed prizemoney of $96,500.

In fact his preparation sequence has been 2-1-2-1-2-1-2, and the post race advice to trainer, Keith Dryden, was to find another race because a victory was certain.

The next victory, however, will have to be next preparation, as Vilakazi Street will now head for a very well deserved spell. His form this preparation has well and truly cemented him as a metropolitan Saturday class sprinter and his connections are very excited about the months ahead.