BOILOVER! THE GERAN STABLE SADDLE A LONG-PRICED QUINELLA UNDER LIGHTS AT THE SUNSHINE COAST

By Graham Potter | Friday, June 14, 2024

It is always a feather in a trainer’s cap when they train a race quinella. When those horses cross the line in first and second place at odds of $14 and $19 ... well, that makes quite a statement in its own right ... so, the training partnership of Corey and Kylie Geran can take a bow after achieving that result with Vonzither (who finished first) and New Maher (the runner-up) in a BM58 Handicap over 1300m at the Sunshine Coast on June 14.

Vonzither had run into a heavy track when unplaced at her previous start while New Maher had been firmly knocking on the door in his last two starts leading into this assignment when finishing fourth and in second place, both when beaten by less than two lengths.

Vonzither landed in the leading line and held her position briefly before Kark Zechner was happy to take a hold and settle the mare in fourth spot two-and-a-half lengths off the leader in the sweep to the home turn, a length ahead of the Geran stable-mate New Maher, who was also travelling comfortably with Nozi Tomizawa aboard.

On straightening, Zechner was quick to set Vonzither about her business, angling out marginally off the rail to have a clear passage past the two duelling frontrunners.

Approaching the 100m mark, the two leaders were spent forces and Vonzither was the first to get to them, but her race was still far from won with New Maher, who had taken a while to go through his gears and build momentum, and Hallside Martini (another $19 chance) closing strongly down the centre of the track.

Such was the nature of the finish that Vonzither had to stay strong to the line and not miss a beat to hold off New Maher who, in turn had to fight just as much all the way to the line to keep second place ahead of the solid challenge of Hallside Martini.

It was a real boilover result for most punters as far as all three placings were concerned, but for Tean Geran another important win was on the board, the quinella was a bonus and a rare treat at those prices ... and just over $20 000 went into the prize-money earned pool.

And all that just took 79 seconds!

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