THE DOUBLES JUST KEEP COMING FOR CORNISH

By Graham Potter | Sunday, September 11, 2022

For the second Sunshine Coast meeting in a row, Jasmine Cornish came away with a same day race double on September 11 … taking her total to six wins from twenty-five rides (a twenty-four percent strike-rate) so far for the month of September.

First into the winner’s enclosure was the Stuart Kendrick trained speedster La Amigo.

The son of Squamosa had won five of his eleven starts going into a BM70 Handicap over 1000m and, although the five-year-old was first-up after a five month break from race action, his form … plus the fact that he seems to thrive on his home track … saw him installed as a short-priced favourite at $1.80 with Kosciuszko next on offer at $5.

In truth, as the betting suggested, this was never a serious contest once Cornish pushed La Amigo up in-between runners to take up the lead after the field had covered 200m.

Once there, La Amigo’s concentrated effort simply wore down the opposition before leading them a merry dance all the way down the home straight with the winning margin of 2.50 lengths still flattering La Amigo’s rivals as he could have extended that margin if he had been asked to do so.

For a young apprentice establishing a successful profile, creating contacts and then using those opportunities those contacts give you to its full advantage is what it is all about … and the opportunities given to Cornish by Stuart Kendrick is a great example of that.

In her three recent rides for the eight-time Sunshine Coast Premiership winning trainer, Cornish has brought home two winners (La Amigo and Funny Money) as well as a second place (on Funny Money – in town).
Kicking goals for sure.
_______________________________________________________________________

The eight-year-old Harryandthetiger was a veteran of thirty-three starts going into BM58 Handicap over 1300m at the Sunshine Coast on September 11.

Although largely unwanted in the betting at $13, the son of Publishing was not far off the winner in his last two starts (1.20 lengths over 1000m and 2.0 lengths over 1200m) in BM60 and BM65 company … and he was down to a BM58 here and racing over an increased distance of 1300m … so there were reasons giving a hint of a possible improvement.

The fact that Cornish had ridden Harryandthetiger in both of those last two starts, and thus was familiar with the horse, was also a plus.

Harryandthetiger didn’t have the gate-speed to be able to take full advantage of his number one barrier draw and he went back to settle in midfield in eighth position, four lengths off a keen chase for the lead in the early part.

In the sweep to the home turn Harryandthetiger was up to sixth, saving ground, but still those four lengths adrift … and then improved up to fourth, now only two lengths back on straightening.

It looked like Harryandthetiger still had plenty of work to do at that stage though, particularly with the $2.25 favourite Chief Artie getting first run on him to his outside, but Harryandthetiger’s acceleration in the run home was such that none of his rivals could stay with him as he surged to the front halfway up the straight and went away from his field to score by a decisive 2.00 length margin.

This was win number five from thirty-four starts for the Mark Callaghan trained runner who also has ten minor placings to his credit.

More articles