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| Finally a Group I win for Turffontein |
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Turffontein has finally grabbed the Group I win he deserves after taking out a controversial Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Turffontein has performed honestly among the best company, running third in last year's Rupert Clarke Stakes among his three previous minor placings at the top level.
The five-year-old’s task was made easier after Gold Salute and Estee were out of business after a shocking start to the race but Turffontein pinged the gates before jockey Glen Boss did a terrific job to get the stallion across from his wide gate.
There was plenty of interference back in the field when the pace slowed in the middle stages but Boss had the son of Johannesburg relaxed in a good rhythm up near the lead and out of harm’s way.
Turffontein travelled sweetly for Boss before kicking clear at the 300 metres, showing his usual grit to outlast Stickpin and Raffaello to win by three-quarters of a length.
“We’ve had so many little problems with this horse, he’s sort of a project horse,” Graeme Woolston said. “Bossy has done so much work with him and to get a result like this is terrific.
“He’s such an honest horse. He needed the rain to come and take the fire out of the track and it did, everything just went perfectly. It was a great effort.”
Boss was thrilled as he dismounted Turffontein, the triple Melbourne-Cup winning rider saying the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes win was a reward for his hard work since moving to Melbourne.
“He’s such a trier this little horse,” Boss said. “It’s great to get a Group I win here. I’ve worked hard since moving to Melbourne and it’s a great reward.”
Sunday, 20 September 2009 |
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