Filly in charge for Sarge

BY PHILLIP QUAY AT MATAMATA

MATAMATA TRAINER John Sargent had some anxious moments before realising that smart juvenile filly Banchee had overcome his Matamata Breeders' Stakes hoodoo yesterday.

"It was touch and go when they crossed the line and I've got to say I wasn't sure if she had won," Sargent said. "But when you saw the close up of the camera on the television after the race you could see she had done it."

For the last two years "Sarge" had rued his luck, having to be content with second placings in the Group II $100,000 fillies' feature – Il Quello Veloce two years ago – and then St Germaine.

Sargent won the race in 2006 with Naturo and capturing it again was another special highlight for him in a red-letter season, which has provided him with other notable victories, like the Wellington Cup with Red Ruler.

Sargent was thrilled that Banchee was not foiled again yesterday by a bad barrier draw.

"Fortunately Leith [Innes, jockey] timed his run to perfection and if ever a horse deserved to win a big race it is her," Sargent said.

"She has had some bad draws in her last couple of starts and again today she had to start from the outside," he said.

"This time she did race a bit handier and Leith allowed her to find her feet. She has a big finish and we saw that again today," he said.

Banchee won on debut at Ellerslie in December, but returned minor placings in her two previous starts, including a last-start third in the Karaka Million behind Queensland filly Sister Havana.

However, this time she turned the tables on Sister Havana who, in a thrilling finish, finished a head back second, with a nose to Miss Thorn.

St Germaine was also back in the winner's circle yesterday for Sargent, who also saddled up Shi Kin Fly for victory.

"It has been a big season for me and this is one of my most rewarding days. Every Matamata trainer wants more than anything to win the Breeders' Stakes because it is our flagship race," Sargent said.

"Picking up two other winners on the same day has been the icing on the cake."

Sargent said Banchee had not reached her full potential yet.

"She has a lot of development yet and I can't wait to see her up over 1600m next season in the fillies' races," he said.

Banchee will go on to contest the Group I two-year-old features, the Diamond Stakes, at Ellerslie on March 13, and the Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes, at Awapuni on April 3.

She is raced by successful Hastings owner Sam Kelt.

MATAMATA TRAINER Paul Moroney was back in the headlines for the right reasons when promising two-year-old Nacho Man scored a shock win in the $45,000 Waikato Stud Slipper (1200m).

It has been a difficult month for Moroney who, along with training partner brother Mike, was fined $17,500 (plus $7500 in costs) over a positive drug test taken from Mae Jinx, who won at the Matamata meeting in December.

Moroney will surrender his licence at the end of the season and his position as New Zealand training partner will be taken over by Andrew Clarken.

Nacho Man's 2 1/2 length win yesterday gave Paul Moroney a great amount of personal satisfaction and the stable was confident he would run well, despite the gelding's odds of $31.90.

Paul Moroney had a big part to play in Nacho Man joining Ballymore Stables.

He was very keen on the son of Mr Nancho at the Karaka yearling sales last year, but didn't buy him. However, he quickly approached the successful buyers, Cambridge couple Tom and Shelly Murtagh, to train the gelding.

Nacho Man, who cost $27,000, won his debut in fine style at the Woodville meeting last month, but was well beaten in the Karaka Million.

"He got a rocky run but was never in the hunt the Ellerslie way round," Mike Moroney said. "We thought that on his home track today he would be a lot more competitive and his price on the tote surprised us," Moroney said.

Nacho Man will now head to the Group I Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes, at Awapuni on April 3.

MATAMATA TRAINER Graham Richardson put speedy three-year-old filly Italian Princess into elite company after her comfortable win in the $25,000 Rich Hill Three-Year-Old.

"She reminds me a lot of one of the best horses I have trained, Kailey," Richardson said.

Kailey won at Group I level in the Railway Handicap at Ellerslie in 1997.

"This filly is very quick and her time today was not far off the track record – and she was not pushed at all."

Italian Princess, who was bred by Richardson, has won three of her five outings.

- © Fairfax NZ News