Vega One wins The Gateway to book spot in the Stradbroke
Vega One booked his ticket into next year’s Stradbroke after setting a new Eagle Farm 1400m track record in the inaugural running of the $250,000 The Gateway.
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Vega One booked his ticket into next year’s Stradbroke after setting a new Eagle Farm 1400m track record in the inaugural running of The Gateway at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Despite 100mm of rain for the week, including 50mm on race eve, times were quick throughout the day and Vega One clocked in at 1:21.74, bettering the mark set by Trekking in this year’s Stradbroke.
Boomsara and Tambo’s Mate set what looked to be an even tempo and Vega One sat behind them for Michael Rodd, not spending a penny in the run and he whipped around them soon after straightening and won easily.
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Soxagon continued his climb through the ranks by darting up the inside for second, with Tambo’s Mate third and Boomsara fourth. Outback Barbie disappointed, failing to run on at all in the straight.
Trainer Tony Gollan had left Eagle Farm by the time this race was run, to visit his mother Paulette in hospital.
.@tonygollan 's Vega One wins the inaugural The Gateway @BrisRacingClub today, and books his spot in the Stradbroke with a lovely ride from @MichaelRodd2! 👠@RaceQLD pic.twitter.com/5EVkxj09Qy
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 14, 2019
It is uncertain how much further Vega One progresses this summer – he could run in the Buffering in a fortnight, but the long term goal is now set in stone, with the Stradbroke start secured with this race offering exempt status for the $1.5 Million Sprint.
Rodd believes Vega One has Group 1 potential, but he still has plenty to learn.
“He’s still got a few immature antics and is still a bit of a baby. The longer we go on with him, the better he will be and hopefully there’s a Group 1 win in him,” he said.
“He had the right barrier to get that run. With the pace put on for him, it was lovely to sit behind them. At the 600m (Valario) was just dropping off slightly, so to play the percentages, I got to the outside.
“It surprised me the turn of foot he put in. I rode him hands and heels to get past the other two horses and wasn’t sure what was going to be left with him, but when I dropped one around his tail, he really took off. He’s a really impressive horse.”
■ Consistent four-year-old Trevelyan is headed to the Gold Coast for the inaugural running of The Wave on January 4 after making it back-to-back wins over the mile at Eagle Farm.
Ron Stewart used the inside barrier to advantage and Trevelyan had a clear margin over a wall of horses behind him, headed by Dreamreacher, who should have finished a touch closer.
Meagher immediately set his sights on the new 1800m race for three and four-year-olds next month. “This horse was seven weeks prior and five weeks into this. We certainly race him sparingly and he seems to enjoy that sort of work,” he said. “He’s a real trier. You’d like to have three or four of them in your yard.”
Cup on horizon for Deep Image
Robbie Fradd recommended to trainer Rob Heathcote that Deep Image goes straight to the Magic Millions Cup (1400m), rather than run again after the pair combined to win the Listed Lough Neagh Stakes.
Clocking the third track record of the day, Deep Image crossed from his wide draw and travelled comfortably throughout. “He’s much more comfortable when he draws wide and can get there under his own steam,” Fradd said.
Deep Image went straight to the lead - and stayed there...
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 14, 2019
Robert Heathcote and Robbie Fradd take out the TAB Lough Neagh Stakes @BrisRacingClub @RaceQLD! pic.twitter.com/qFteCMlhPH
When asked by Heathcote if Deep Image should run again in The Buffering in a fortnight or just go to the MM Cup four weeks between runs, Fradd didn’t hesitate.
“I would wait and just go straight to the Magic Millions,” he said. “I think he appreciates racing a little on that fresh side.”
Heathcote felt Deep Image was beaten by his inside barrier last time when he was a touch slow away and had to work hard to lead when third to Tambo’s Mate in the Recognition Stakes last month.
“This track suits this horse. As Fraddy said to me at Doomben, they get to him too quick on that home turn. Here he’s allowed to have a couple of nice sectionals,” Heathcote said.
Brian Dais said runner-up Looks Like Elvis, who ran a terrific race coming back to 1300m, would now likely go for a spell.
Connections were satisfied with the run of betting wobbler Chapter And Verse, who wasn’t helped by the slick sprint home (34.1 seconds).
■ Cult hero The Candy Man took the next step to earning a shot at Magic Millions Day when he bounced back to winning form in the Hamilton Hotel Handicap.
Brad Stewart said The Candy Man gave him a lovely ride and he “never had a worry throughout” the 1800m race. “He carries the weight really well and have a look at him now, he could go around again,” he said.
Trainer Barry Baldwin, sporting a broken ankle incurred at the barrier trials last month, said The Candy Man had to run on the quick back-up on Saturday to set himself up for a Magic Millions tilt.
The Candy Man was third as favourite in last week’s Bernborough Handicap, but relished the step to 1800m on the bigger track, despite his 59kg yesterday.
Baldwin will now run him in the Shoot Out Quality over 2200m at Eagle Farm on December 28 and if he’s successful in that race, it will earn him a ticket into the Magic Millions Stayers Cup (2400m) on January 11.
Jim Byrne said fourth placed A Man To Match is a realistic chance of turning the tables in the Shoot Out, as he will appreciate stepping to 2200m.
He tried to match strides with The Candy Man when he made his run yesterday and that left him a touch flat late.
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