By Adam Hamilton
THERE was something really fitting about the sparkling NSW Breeders Challenge 2YO final win of Ignatius.
It was almost four years ago to the day when another Tasmanian pacer turned-up at Menangle and won his first start at the track. His name was Beautide.
Ignatius is trained by Todd Rattray and his brother Jimmy, who trained and drove Beautide, took the reins on Ignatius yesterday (Sunday).
Ignatius’ biggest win so far came just a few months after Jimmy Rattray retired Beautide. It also came at the same race meeting where Beautide contested two Len Smith Miles – for a win in 2014 and a second to Smolda in 2015.
Just as Beautide went to another level once he arrived at Menangle, Todd Rattray said the same for Ignatius.
“He’s improved so much since he left him. It’s beyond anything we could’ve hoped for,” he said.
Todd enjoyed sharing the win with his brother and praised the drive. “James has done a fantastic job,” he said. “You have to pinch yourself a bit when you come here and beat stables like the Purdons and Trittons at Menangle.”
Ignatius began well from three, happily sat behind the speedy Divine State and zoomed home when Jimmy Rattray got him clear to win by 3.9m in a sizzling 1min51.3sec. It took 0.3sec off the Australasian record set by Divine State earlier this year.
Improving Victorian youngster Little Peanut roared home late for second, Mark Purdon’s Sicario ran a mighty brave third after sitting parked and Divine State tired a little late for fourth.
JUST as Jimmy Rattray needed a tonic after the retirement of Beautide, the same could be said for Bernie and Dianne Kelly after recently bringing down the curtain on champion mare Frith’s career.
What Ignatius did for Rattray, buzz juvenile filly Molly Kelly has done for the Kellys.
Molly Kelly, a full-sister to Frith, was narrowly beaten by stablemate Nostra Beach in the Group 1 Australian Gold earlier in the season, but snared her own Group 1 with Chris Alford at Menangle yesterday.
Alford, who has driven for the Kellys at different times for almost 20 years, praised them for sending Molly Kelly to top Victorian trainers Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin.
“They’ve always been great owners and sending this filly to Emma and Clayton has been a great move,” he said.
Molly Kelly made it six wins and second from just seven starts when she led throughout in a 1min55.3sec mile.
A BRILLIANT front-running drive by Bernie Hewitt helped snare him his first Group 1 win with Royal Story in the NSW Breeders Challenge 3YO fillies’ final.
Hewitt took Royal Story to the front as expected and had to run a slick 26.6sec opening split, but then “pinched” a 31sec second split while favourite Dont Think Twice was three-wide coming around the field from the back row draw.
Hewitt then made the favourite work and chase with a 27.6sec third split and just found enough to win by a half-head in a 1min53sec mile, while Shezallapples rocketed home from an impossible position for third.
It was a remarkably similar contest to the 4YO Mares’ final where Amanda Turnbull led on Eye See Diamonds, while $1.30 favourite Heavens Trend had to work around the field from the back row and sit parked.
Just when Heavens Trend put her nose in front and looked headed for victory, Turnbull lifted Eye See Diamonds and she kicked-back to win by a nose in a 1min52.1sec mile.
TRAINER Michael Doltoff’s patience with Rock Of America was rewarded with his barnstorming NSW Breeders Challenge 4YO Entires and Geldings final.
“He hasn’t been the easiest horse to train, but the ability has always been there and he’s got plenty of heart. That was a big win,” Doltoff said.
In contrast to most of the Breeders Challenge finals where front runners dominated, Rock Of America powered home from off the pace for driver Greg Sugars to snatch victory of Left Tennant by a head in a 1min51.4sec mile.
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