Plunge foiled in Gold Sovereign Stakes
Story By by Peter Staples
Monday, 18 February 2008:  | | Scott Brunton |
The Tony Vasil-trained Apprehend was backed off the map to win the prestigious event over 1200 metres firming from his opening quote of $3 on TAB Sportsbet to start at $1.70.
But it was Testamarriage ($10) that performed like the odds-on chance to score by over a length from the favourite with local filly Huiskes ($7) only a lip away third.
Testamarriage is prepared by Tasmania's premier trainer David Brunton for his major stable client Whispering Sands syndicate that races the filly in partnership with Leonie Green and Rick and Tina Polley.
The filly was purchased at the Tasmanian yearling sale for $28,000 and has already proven to be a bargain buy.
While the trainer was not in Launceston for the race, his son and stable foreman Scott Brunton said the filly was as good as any two-year-old the stable has prepared.
“She as good as any juvenile we've trained and we've had some good ones,” Brunton said.
“We were quietly confident she'd be competitive because she had good form going into the race, she had a good gate and Stephen Maskiell on top, so she had a bit in her favor.”
“We really expect her to be better over more ground so we'll probably be targeting the feature fillies' races over 1600 metres and beyond next season,” he said.
The Testa Rossa-Lemon Soda filly was ridden superbly by Maskiell who settled the filly in fifth position on the fence soon after the start and made his move about 500 metres from home.
Apprehend (Danny Brereton) raced outside of the leader Waddington with Huiskes tracking him wherever he went and Testamarriage poised to pounce in the home straight.
Maskiell put his charge in a winning position and the filly finished the race off like a class act.
She hit the line 1-1/4 lengths clear of Apprehend and Huiskes with Tristasun a closing fourth.
All clear was delayed while the connections of Tristasun viewed stewards' film of an incident that occurred near the 500-metre mark but they decided against lodging an objection.
Brunton said a decision on whether Testamarriage goes to the $100,000 Magic Millions Classic on Launceston Cup day (February 27) will be made later this week.
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