| Promising gelding Rubitano
has tasted his second straight defeat as a long odds on favourite in the Street Cafe
Handicap (1200m) at Sandown today. After
jumping out the barriers the five-year-old always seemed to be travelling well in front
but when taken on over the concluding stages was no match for the eventual winner, the
Tony McEvoy trained Fraar's Turn.
First up since October, Fraar's Turn won his fourth race from
just his seventh race and gave his connections a "pleasant surprise."
But the win didn't come without it's headaches. The gelding
who had grown a major dislike of the barriers after an incident earlier in his career took
quite a deal of coaxing with a blindfold before entering the gates.
Gary Fennessy, the stable foreman for Tony McEvoy said the
win had surprised him to some degree.
"I didn't really expect to beat the other one (Rubitano)
today," Fennessy said.
"We felt he would run well and had a bright future, but
perhaps we may have to look a little higher now," he added.
Fennessy said after the win that the Lindsay Park stable was
looking at a tilt in the Group Three Easter Cup before today and with the impressive
performance a "better race" could be on the agenda.
"We'll just have to wait and see how things turn out,
but he's returned in great shape," Fennessy said.
Rubitano ($1.50 fav) was expected to win. The Brian
Mayfield-Smith trained galloper had won four of his six starts before today's event.
The gelding looked a ball of muscle in the yard and he may
strip a little fitter next time out. |
