Motomiss romps home to break maiden

A DRAMATIC start to the day couldn’t stop the talented Lindsay Hatch filly at Clifford Park today.

Andrew Mallyon rode Motomiss to a soft win. Photo: File

RACING: A dramatic start to the day at Clifford Park wasn’t enough to stop talented three-year-old Motomiss from breaking her maiden.

The opening event on the card, the Audi Centre Toowoomba Maiden Handicap (870m) looked a race in two with Motomiss and Mithu dominating the market.

The latter had other plans, dislodging jockey Ryan Maloney on the way to post, resulting in it being a late scratching.

That brought the Lindsay Hatch runner into odds-on at $1.60, and after jumping strongly from an inside gate, the filly was never in doubt.

Jockey Andrew Mallyon didn’t need to click her out of second gear as she romped away to an effortless six and a half length win.

To Love Somebody ($12) ran on late to claim second, a length and a quarter ahead of Jojo Go ($19).

Hatch told Sky Thoroughbred Central that it was a deserved win after running second at Clifford Park last time out.

“I think she’ll get beyond that distance,” Hatch said.

“The race was just there for her. I thought she was unlucky last start and she’s trained on good and has coped with stable life really good.

“I think alleys are very important from the start and in short races. The difference (today) was she drew a good ally.

“Andrew was able to nurse her and she hit the line good.”

It proved to be a strong start for punters as Clifford Park enjoyed its first meeting under the new zoning regulations from Racing Queensland.

A strong number of outside acceptances helped boost the card to 11 races, and a pair of Gold Coast visitors were able to take the next two events on the card.

Marcus Wilson’s Disarmed ($11) got off the mark at his fourth start, taking out the Laser Clinics Australia Maiden Plate (1200m).

Matt McGillivray made an early move forward before opting to take a sit on the horse, which proved to be the winning move.

With well-backed duo Doctor Costello and Valletta Knight not in the picture, Disarmed hit the front at the 200m, and found enough in the tank to hold off fast-finishing debutant Beckford ($7) by a head, with My Best Effort ($15) a length behind the winner in third.

Stable representative John Wilson told Sam Hyland that the barrier was a concern, however the two-year-old had been building to that performance.

“That was the only concern with both horses (Disarmed and Go Factor). He (Disarmed) drew 10 so we thought we’d come out positive and see where we ended up,” Wilson said.

“He; s very professional that horse. He’s done everything right since day one. Both will go to the paddock for a well-earned break.”

McGillivray made it a race-to-race double in the Highfields Builder Class 1 Handicap (1625m).

Aboard market leader Amazingly ($2.90), McGillivray sat near the tail of the field before making his move 650m from home, circling the field three-wide.

The John Smerdon gelding was able to sustain its run, wearing down long time leader Battle Plane ($6) to score by three quarters of a length.

After the despair of Mithu playing up before the first, Tony and Maddysen Sears had a change of fortunes with Miss Silky ($3.70) getting back into the winner’s circle in the Focus HR Class 1 Handicap.

A mid-race move from Michael Cahill saw the filly sit outside up on the pace at the halfway mark.

She found a kick when required, booting clear in the straight to score by a length and a half to Danniwillbreezonby ($5.50).

East Esplanade ($7.50) gave Mallyon his second winner of the day, scoring for local trainer Bradley Puckeridge in the Potters Boutique Hotel Class 1 Handicap (1200m).

The four-year-old had to overcome the outside barrier, finding enough to down the heavily-backed All Shiraz ($2.25 fav) by a long neck.

Nathan Gay’s consistent Heart Attack broke through for his second win, while Factory Warrior romped home in the K&R Plumbing Supplies Benchmark 68 Handicap (1850m) to give McGillivray his hat-trick.

A recap of races 8-11 and full results and dividends will appear online tomorrow and in Tuesday’s edition of The Chronicle.

Originally published as