Colless enjoys the scenery on Oaks day
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Scenic Shot (outside) goes head to head with Rampant Lion in the Group 2 P.J. O’Shea Stakes (Noel Pascoe photo)
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Brisbane jockey Glen Colless showed his astuteness as a top rider by scoring a winning double on Queensland Oaks raceday at Eagle Farm.
Colless’ first win for the day came on Scenic Shot (G5 Scenic-Sweepshot) in the Group 2 Seppelt Wines P.J. O’Shea Stakes 2200m. He had a tough task on his hands with Scenic Shot taking on a challenge late in the final straight. Rampant Lion (Shane Scriven) and Scenic Shot were shoulder to shoulder and a bob of the head was all that separated the two on the line.
It was another six lengths back to Doug’s Mate (Jim Byrne) who was next best.
“He fought back strong that other horse (Rampant Lion). I thought he had us half way down the straight,” trainer Daniel Morton said.
“He’s tough as nails our bloke. (He) Just keeps fighting. When it came down to a fight, I knew he was just going to hang in there. It was just probably the head to the end.”
The heavy track was a worry for the trainer but the field size reassured him that they would be amongst the contenders in the final few metres.
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Vietnam cruises past the field to win the Group 3 Dane Ripper Stakes (Noel Pascoe photo)
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“I really was (worried about the track) because he’s an unknown on it really. The only times he’s been on it, he didn’t go so great. It was probably worse than it was today,” he said.
“It was a little field. We were never going to be too far from it so you know if he tackled them early like he did he was always going to tough it out.”
Colless had to wait until the last race of the day to pick up his second win, this time in the Group 3 Patinack Farm Dane Ripper Stakes 1400m aboard Vietnam.
Vietnam (M5 Admiralty-My Wife’s Advice) continued with her impressive form of late picking up her second Black Type win.
Despite a slow start, Colless found a spot at the tail of the field before taking to the outside in the straight. The mare lifted to the task and hit the line a length and a quarter ahead of Seconde (Lacey Morrison). Quizzical Lady (Brad Pengelly) finished in third.
Vietnam’s last start was back on April 19 when she ran second in the Listed Member’s Quality Handicap 1600m to Rampant Lion. Previous to that start she won her first Black Type race, the Listed Bright Shadow Quality Handicap 1200m.
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Claire Power – June 3
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