Millbank Wins Wonderful World Stakes
Story By Alex Steedman
Saturday, 25 October 2008:  | | Nick Williams |
Millbank jumped well for Steven Arnold who positioned the son of Keeper fourth on the rail behind the pacesetters Born Princess and Gai Waterhouse-trained filly Montana Flyer.
There were a few nervous moments for connections at the turn as he struggled to get into space between Gold In Dubai and Montana Flyer.
Moving onto the straight however, a clear run presented itself and by the 100m, Millbank had moved to the lead.
Millbank won by a length over Gold In Dubai who ran wide without cover for the duration of the race. Montana Flyer ran home solidly for third.
In only his fourth career start, the John Sadler-trained three-year-old showed his rawness down the straight as he hung in badly and looked around as he hit the line.
Millbank went into the race as the favourite following a four-length win in a three-year-old restricted handicap at Cranbourne on October 12, today was the geldings first attempt at Group company following his success in lesser grade.
“He's on the up this horse,” owner Nick Williams said. “He's stepped up a long way today and has done a good job.”
Millbank's win could be a sign of things to come today for John Sadler and Lloyd Williams who have a strong hand in today's Cox Plate with Zipping and C'est La Guerre.
There are some concerns in the camp as to how the pair will handle the Moonee Valley track, which has been upgraded to a Good 3.
“We're doing a raindance at the moment,” Williams said. “Obviously it has already been upgraded and you'd think by four o'clock it'll be starting to get pretty hard. Both our blokes when they've run here on a rock hard track this preparation they've felt their feet.”
“The horses are in great order and if the track is OK they will both be in the finish.”
Steven Arnold takes the ride on C'est La Guerre in the Cox Plate.
“They are probably genuine dead or fraction worse going horses and today its genuine good,” Arnold said.
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