PORT MACQUARIE: Ascotello Makes It To Six Figures
Story By Ken Gentles
Wednesday, 15 October 2008:  | | Peter Graham |
Ascotello, a sprightly 10-year-old, packed too much fight for the six-year-old Eire Of Magic in a driving finish.
“The other horse never headed me but drew level and Ascotello gave a bit more,” said Ascotello's regular pilot Peter Graham.
“I got a nice split through the middle and he really fought on well the old fellow.”
When asked whether the veteran was a nice placid old horse trainer Grant Prosser replied: “No he isn't, he is a bit of an old flea, actually.
“He has a mind of his own and if he does not want to do something he won't - he lets you know who he thinks the boss is that's for sure.”
Ascotello is owned by local bookmaker Russell Salt who said he only put the horse back into work for another preparation after his son Bryce mentioned to him that the horse only needed to win $5000 more prize money to top the $100,000 mark.
Ascotello has had 80 starts for a remarkable in the money record of record of nine wins and 34 placings.
* TRAINER Pat Quinn may have missed out on the big prize when Lieca Dance finished out of the money in the Port Macquarie Cup on Friday but he only had to wait 24 for a nice consolation prize on Saturday.
Leica Dance's little sister Lieca Alot returned to the trackon Saturday from a six month spell and made short work of the field in the a Ratings 62 race over 1200m.
“She had a race taken off her on protest first up last preparation so we knew she would go well fresh today,” Quinn said.
“But she is not just a first up specialist. She had a very bad back last time in and I have got that right now - she will make a nice mare.”
Given a brilliant ride by Mark Hanneybel, Lieca Alot settled fourth on the fence before going through a gap at the 200m mark and surged past her rivals to win from Good Party and Armand.
• TOP trainer Neil Godbolt rounded of a successful couple of days when Great Stookan bounded straight to the lead and kept going to win a 1000m maiden.
Godbolt is normally very good at keeping stable secrets well and truly under lock and key but racetrack regulars took th tip when they saw him scouring the bookies boards looking for the best price about the speedy gelding.
“He just needed a bit of time and his three runs as a 2YO were pretty good.” Godbolt said
“He only had to reproduce his track work of Tuesday and he would win.”
Sent to the front by Marlon Dolendo Great Stookan was never going to be beaten and despite being a little green surged away to win by 2.5 lengths.
* THE Tas Morton trained 3YO Belaction was an impressive maiden plate winner over 1400m at only his second start.
This strapping son of Beautiful Crown is closely related to the smart Morton horse Safeas and raced on pace before really getting going the last 100m to win comfortably.
* THE best training effort on Saturday was by big Mathew Robinson from Taree who produced the 4YO mare We Got Fun to win first up since December of 2006.
“Glen Hodge gave me the horse to try and get right she had a major heel injury and it took a lot of time and effort just to get her back to the track,” Robinson said.
“I told Hodgey she was okay and he said you have done the work, you can keep her.”
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