Grand warrior Ashford Street lands Christmas Stakes to bring up riding treble for Jamie Mott

Grand warhorse Ashford Street sealed a riding treble for Jamie Mott with victory in the Christmas Stakes at Caulfield Heath on Boxing Day.

Ashford Street ridden by Jamie Mott lands the Nick Johnstone Real Estate Christmas Stakes at Caulfield Heath on Boxing Day Picture: Reg Ryan

Veteran sprinter Ashford Street burst through to win the Listed Christmas Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield Heath as jockey Jamie Mott sealed a Boxing Day treble.

Favourite Mrs Chrissie, trained by Ciaron Maher, wound up strongly down the middle of the track ominously late but peaked as Ashford Street emerged between runners.

Trainer Tom Dabernig, who also saddled Romantic Choice (fifth) in the Christmas Stakes, said Ashford Street appreciated a short break going into the 1100m feature.

“I must admit we were considering turning him out and Peter McLaren (the owner) spoke to me and said maybe give him a freshen up,” Dabernig said.

“A short little break and try and target him for something over summer… he used to be a wet-tracker and then his best form of late has been on dry so we thought it’s worth a try.

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“He seems to like these freshen ups and he’s got a liking here for the track, we got the in-form jockey in Jamie Mott… today he just got that nice drag into it and made him strong late.

“He can be a bit vulnerable getting to the post but today he was challenged and kicked back so it was a good effort.”

Ashford Street, which paid $10 with Ladbrokes, has won 11 of 44 starts and placed 10 times.

"What a marvel he is!"

Ashford Street kicks late to take out the Christmas Stakes 🎄@[e-mail]/qx1vTb9PF3

— Racing.com (@Racing) December 26, 2024

“We haven’t looked too far ahead but I did see in a month’s time there’s a 1000m race here (Listed W.J Adams Stakes) which could be an option,” Dabernig said.

“He needs a bit of time between runs, which seems to be the key to him.”

Lightly-raced mare Romantic Choice travelled behind the speed and boxed on soundly late.

“I thought she ran a really good race and obviously being a Toronado mare we’re chasing black type, we might put a nomination in for Geelong,” Dabernig said.

“The (Listed) Black Pearl is 1200m, we might have a look at that.”

Mott, who finished with a treble on the card after wins aboard Centennial Park and Ziryab, was confident aboard Ashford Street.

“He was in good shape, Tom and his team has done a great job with him, he’s obviously on the older side now but he felt fantastic going to the barriers,” Mott said.

“He was able to get into a beautiful spot, I just needed room from the corner which I was able to extricate off the inside and he won nicely.

“It was a decent enough field, Mrs Chrissie smashed them the other day so I wasn’t sure I’d be able to beat her but really proud of his efforts when I was getting challenged.”

Originally published as Grand warrior Ashford Street lands Christmas Stakes to bring up riding treble for Jamie Mott