Jockey Luke Nolen, who rode a hat-trick at Doomben yesterday, didn’t take much convincing to partner the Anthony Cummings-trained Fontelina in Saturday week’s group 1, $500,000 T.J. Smith at Eagle Farm. The promising juvenile, in only his second race, showed an abundance of potential winning the $100,000 listed The Phoenix (1350m). ”If you’re happy to ride, I’m happy to have you on,” Cummings told Nolen on dismounting. ”I’m on,” Nolen replied quickly.
The colt, Cummings admitted, had a rushed preparation before the T.J. but his raw ability persuaded him to throw him in the deep end. The son of Testa Rossa was bought at a Magic Millions ready-to-run sale in Melbourne. ”Edward O’Dwyer found him … I was having lunch at the Railway Club in Port Melbourne with some friends, including Rob Willis,” Cummings said. ”We put a syndicate together there and then.”
Given the run of the race by Nolen, Fontelina ($4.80) scored by 1¾ lengths over heavily backed Lucky Morna ($5.50 to $4.20) with Cindarockinrella 1¼ lengths away third.
ACCIDENT DELAY
A triple fatality on the M1 to Brisbane at Beenleigh caused havoc with early riding engagements at Doomben. Many Gold Coast-based jockeys were stuck in the subsequent traffic snarl, and stewards had to make seven rider alterations in the first three races. All horses arrived in time.
EARLY PRESENT
Adelaide-bound apprentice Mitchell Speers had an early birthday present when the mare Alberton Park stormed home late to win the Strategic Airline Class 6 Plate. Speers turns 22 on Tuesday and is soon to leave to join the Mark Kavanagh stable in Adelaide. Alberton Park is prepared by Liam Birchley. Alberton Park is likely to tackle the $100,000 Gai Waterhouse Classic (1350m) at Ipswich on June 18.
WEIGHT FOR IT
”Lucky he wasn’t carrying my weight,” joked portly Gold Coast trainer Bryan Guy after ghostly grey Shuffle The Cash won the $125,000 Premier’s Cup. Toting 54kg, the gelding showed his best form to beat Tinseltown and Little Stranger in the group 3 race. It was the 10th win for Shuffle The Cash, bred by Jack Donnelly of Alstonville, and the third successive feature win for rider Luke Nolen. ”What do you say about the rider, three wins in a row,” Guy said. ”No wonder Peter Moody keeps him on.” This time last year Shuffle The Cash won the Rockhampton Cup, but Guy is eyeing greater riches, including next Saturday’s $250,000 Eagle Farm Cup and the $200,000 Ipswich Cup (2150m) on June 18.
CYBER FIRST
Trainer Lee Freedman broke new ground when fined $750 for blasting stewards at Caulfield on Twitter over their decision to scratch his horse Our Smokin’ Rock after it made an unusual noise at the barriers before race three yesterday. It was the first penalty imposed in Victorian thoroughbred racing for comments made by a licensed person on a social media site.