MV SEPT 11 - AVIENUS SHINES IN STOCKS STAKES

By Taron Clarke | Monday, September 13, 2010

Moonee Valley, September 11, 2010.
Track - Slow 6. Rail - True. Penetrometer 5.02.
Stocks Stakes 4YO + Mares
(Group Two) Weight for Age - 1600m.
Time: 1-38.30. 600m Sectional: 37.44. (Carrying 57kg).
1 Avienus; 2 Belscenica; 3 Lady Lynette.
Margins: 3.0L x 0.3L.

Super consistent mare Avienus managed to add some valuable Black Type to her resume with a resounding victory in the Group Two Stocks Stakes over 1600 metres.

Trained by Cranbourne horseman Mark Webb and ridden by Craig Williams, the mare by Reset was able to overcome a wide barrier to score a comfortable victory and give the connections some hope of a berth in the Group One Caulfield Cup.

From her wide gate, Avienus was sent forward by Williams to take a prominent position outside of the early pacemaker Viking Turf Belle. There was no loafing through the first 600 metres of the event, with Viking Turf Belle racing out by two lengths to Avienus and a further five lengths back to Tio Rossa.

The field was strung out over twenty five lengths and the favourite for the event was the Tony Vasil trained Valdemoro and she settled in second last position with only Faint Perfume behind her.

Inside the 500 metre mark Avienus had raced up to strike the front from Viking Turf Belle, who was urged along and not responding to hard riding from Dean Yendall. Moving into third place with a well-timed run was Lady Lynette for Nick Hall.

The favourite Valdemoro had dropped out to last place and just in front of her was Faint Perfume as the field rounded the final bend.

Avienus was set alight by jockey Craig Williams and put up three lengths on Lady Lynette and, out wide, Belscenica.

In the early part of the straight Williams and Avienus were five horses off the fence and well clear of the chasers.

Under the urgings of Williams, Avienus maintained the margin to score a comprehensive victory by three lengths to Belscenica and in third placing was Lady Lynette.

Favourite Valdemoro finished well back in the field in thirteenth position some eleven lengths from the winner Avienus. Bart Cumming’s mare Faint Perfume wasn’t much better beaten nine lengths in ninth position.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Mark Webb: “I was pretty confident, but if things had of gone the other way she could have easily finished tenth beaten two lengths.

“To Craig’s credit he took the punt. He rolled on. Viking Turf Belle gave us the bunny, but It was fantastic.

“Look the plan after today was probably the JRA Cup. We are probably just trying to get a run into the Caulfield Cup somehow. Whether she is good enough for that … who knows … but certainly today is a good stepping stone toward where we are trying to head.

“She is well weighted (for the Caulfield Cup). Look, today a lot of the horses were coming up in the weights. Weight for Age probably wasn’t ideal for her today, but she is so tough and in a dog fight she doesn’t lay down, so the weight drop in her next start alone will be enormous. Well maybe not after today, but it will be a nice weight drop.

“When you’ve got any horse like her coming down in weight it is just beautiful.”

Jockey Craig Williams: “I rode a trial on her … but I was always going overseas … and I just loved what I felt.

“Kane Bradley has done a great job to get her where she is and to educate her. She is still a bit quirky going on now nearly two years later. Credit has got to go to Mark Webb and I have always just liked this horse.

“There has always been something about her. She seems to just really respond. Then again I think she responds to everyone. She’s always been a very consistent and honest mare.

“We just felt that under the Weight for Age scale today that she was meeting horses worse or even on weights that they should be giving weight to … we just felt that we could ride the track to suit us and hopefully bad luck or something would prevail behind, but she was awesome today and it was a really strong and encouraging win.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Avienus): 11.00 out to 13.00 in to 12.00.
Favourite Valdemoro 5.50 out to 6.00 in to 4.60. Finished thirteenth.

Horse to follow: The favourite Valdemoro was very disappointing and although later found to be slightly lame, no excuse could be offered. All honours must lie with the winner Avienus. She was able to sit on a hot speed which saw the other leader Viking Turf Belle capitulate and finish last beaten some sixteen lengths. Avienus was very strong over the concluding stages of the affair and this mare presents as an adaptable horse that settles well and has the ability to dig in for the fight. She wouldn’t look out of place in a Geelong Cup field.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Persian Star raced without bar plates today. This change was announced after the running of Race 6. Trainer Mr R. Smerdon was reminded of his obligations to notify the Stewards of such changes by the prescribed time.

Mont Fleuri, which was racing right to the inside of Tio Rossa, had to be checked severely and lost several lengths as a result of Tio Rossa shifting in momentarily. Based on the evidence before the Stewards, no direct action was taken other than to advise D. Nikolic to ensure that he leaves sufficient room for runners to his inside when in similar circumstances. Due to this incident, Zauberin, which was following, had to be eased to avoid the heels of Mont Fleuri.

M. Rodd (Faint Perfume) said that his mount was not suited by the early speed and in his opinion, the mare is looking for races of a longer distance. Subsequent to the race, a veterinary examination of Faint Perfume revealed no abnormalities.

Subsequent to the race, a veterinary examination of Valdemoro revealed that the mare was slightly lame in the off-fore leg, with minor grazing to the pastern.

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