Devastating performance from Devinardi
The $250,000 QTIS 600 2YO Plate saw a 15-strong field charge down the Gold Coast straight with Devinardi prevailing over the 1200 metre trip.
The Trevor Bailey-trained colt, by Minardi (USA) out of Just Devine, took up the early pace with Ken Pope onboard and headed a field home that has accumulated an astonishing $1,025,650 in prizemoney in their first year of racing.
The QTIS 600 raceday on Saturday, March 20 was held as a prelude to the much anticipated QTIS 600 Magic Millions Yearling Sales on Sunday, March 21 and Monday, March 22.
Devinardi’s first career win came in the sixth leg of the lucrative QTIS 600 Race Series and should provide a stepping stone into more feature races during the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival.
The form of Devinardi had probably been lost amongst the big prizemoney earners that he was up against.
His second career start saw a one and three quarter length third behind Military Rose, who is the newly instated race favourite for the $3.5 million Golden Slipper. This would have pointed to bigger things to come for the two-year-old and any astute punters.
“After watching the (Military Rose) race in Sydney today, it sort of gave me a little more hope,” Bailey said. “It was the first win for these owners, so it was a good day.”
The trainer did not go into the Gold Coast feature race with any preconceived celebration plans, but certainly had confidence in his young charge.
“Clearly he’s a little underdone and he did a great job,” Bailey said.
“We were confident enough that the horse had done everything right, but he just lacked that little bit of work. We’d only had him there six weeks.
“It was a case of just wait and see what happened. What made the race was when he drew a good alley.”
Pope was succinct in his summary of the two-year-olds performance. “He was travelling real easy. This is a real good racehorse here.”
Devinardi posted his first career win after two previous starts and now boasts $171,000 in prizemoney.
Bianca Jewel made plenty of ground late and would have lost no supporters after finishing in second a length back for trainer Steven O’Dea and jockey Ryan Wiggins.
This was also the filly’s third start, and has now collected $127,500 in prizemoney, which includes $44,000 in QTIS 600 added stakes.
Bailey’s father Alan provided the third placed Marking Time, who held out north Queensland’s hope, Steel Dragon.
Marking Time has also been a beneficiary of the QTIS 600 incentive, recording $173,500 in winnings for connections, which includes $68,000 in QTIS 600 race bonuses.
While the QTIS 600 Yearling Sales have finished for the second year, the QTIS 600 Race Series has just reached the halfway mark.
The next instalment on Thursday, April 15 will take place at Toowoomba’s Cushion Track.
The $150,000 QTIS 600 2YO Plate 1300m will accompany the $150,000 Weetwood Handicap and $100,000 Toowoomba Cup on which will prove to be a bumper day of racing on the Eastern Downs.
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Ross Dowd – March 22
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