Eagle Farm turf gives Turffontein a win
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Turffontein brings it home for a win
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Delighted owners gave the loudest cheer of the day when Turffontein won the Group 2 Mitty’s Queensland Guineas 1600m.
It was Turffontein’s (C3 Johannesburg USA-Spirit of Grace) first Queensland win after showing impressive form racing all over Melbourne and Sydney.
Previously the colt had placed third in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000, and second behind Royal Discretion in the Listed Hawkesbury Guineas and Group 3 South Pacific Classic at Randwick.
At Eagle Farm on Monday, June 9 Turffontein got up by one and a quarter lengths ahead of Royal Discretion (Nash Rawiller). Ridden by Danny Nikolic Turffontein showed speed from the jump and sat behind race leader Royal Discretion. He came home hard in the straight and pulled ahead to take the win.
Pepperwood (Jason Holder) placed third by one and a quarter lengths.
It was Nikolic’s second victory of the day after a blazing four length win on Burdekin Blues in the Express Post Handicap 1000m. Trainer Anthony Cummings had confidence in the jockey for Turffontein’s run.
“I actually left it there for Danny to do. I said I don’t want to be last, they’re not making any ground but equally you can’t drive him,” he said.
“Danny took the initiative and put him in the right spot and did a very good job.”
The colt went better than Cummings expected. “I was quite pleased that he was on his toes in the pre-race, that he was quite bright and fresh. He put himself in the right spot and the rest is history.”
“His form is sensational. Only Group 1 form going into the race. You were entitled to expect him to win.
“He’s a deserving winner too, he’s had really good form all the way through, from Melbourne to Sydney to here and for him to show up here today and show his best form is quite heartening. I think he’s up to Group 1 standard.”
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Trainer Anthony Cummings and jockey Danny Nikolic proudly display their Guineas win (Noel Pascoe photos)
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Nikolic was also impressed with the colt’s run. “A lot of speed on paper, tried to sort something in the first eight horses and I got across really easy and had a bit of cover off the leader. He always travelled like the winner. He put pace on them on the top of the straight and he was never going to get run down,” he said.
“I like him. To me he’s been up a long time this horse, he’s been to Melbourne, Sydney. He’s probably been in work longer than most horses can and he’s still a colt and he’s very tough obviously because his attitude was terrific today going to the barriers he was nice and relaxed. Sweated up slightly but raced beautiful right through the run and to me I like horses you can keep racing. He’s a tough race horse.”
From 15 starts, Turffontein has won three races, including the Listed Wellington R.C. Stakes, three seconds and four thirds.
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Hollie Roberts – June 10
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