Craiglea Blondie has more fun
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Kelvin Wharton gets Craiglea Blondie to the line first
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Trainer Peter Fleming is happy to race his thoroughbreds all around our great State.
On Saturday, February 13 he started his three-year-old filly Craiglea Blondie in the Grassroots Rugby QTIS 3YO Handicap 1400m at Eagle Farm and it paid off handsomely.
“It was pretty impressive,” said Gympie-based Fleming. “She won last start at Rocky. I just wanted to race her against her own age down there.”
The Moon Rocket (JPN) filly, out of Chinese Princess, got off to a great start guided by regular Craiglea partner Kelvin Wharton.
They sat off the fence behind the leaders until they hit the straight. Craiglea Blondie went up and around and pushed on to win by a half neck in front of Dusty’s Felt (Christian Reith).
Race favourite Our Mr Cashman (Damian Browne) rounded out the all QTIS trifecta, trailing a short neck.
“It suited the horses up on the pace in that race,” said Fleming. “Actually the first four out of the barrier finished in the first four.
“She doesn’t have a great sprint on her, and is a bit one paced, but was handy enough to get to them.
“Kelvin’s rode her in about her last four or five starts and knows her well.
“He’s in a bit of form too.”
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Craiglea Blondie herself Marilyn Johnston (Noel Pascoe photos)
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Wharton was also impressed with Craiglea Blondie after her second consecutive win.
“She’s been going well the filly,” he said. “She’s just starting to get a bit of a racing pattern and things are starting to turn out for her.”
In her fifth win the filly picked up $32,000 in prizemoney plus $21,000 in QTIS bonuses, bringing her total earnings to $123,800 including $36,800 in QTIS added stakes.
Fleming trains for Stan and Marilyn Johnston’s Craiglea Stud and has been associated with them for nearly five years. In the past few months the stable has been collecting many top racing honours around Queensland.
“All the team’s going well at the moment,” said Fleming. “I think I had three Moon Rocket’s win last week.
“We’ve been having a really good season this season.”
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Hollie Roberts – February 15
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