Jockey Craig “Froggy” Newitt delivered a masterful front running ride to score on Sara’s Rocket who was the first winner for Emsley Lodge carrying the Brimac Racing silks.
The four-year-old mare led all the way in the Latrobe Regional Hospital Pink Day BM56 Hcp (1623m) at Moe with Froggy setting up the victory when he took off at the 600 metres on the daughter Castelvecchio.
On the home turn, Sara’s Rocket ($8.50) shot four lengths clear, and such was her dominance she was eased down the last 50 metres to score by 4-1/4 lengths from $4 favourite Bookman and Sensational Ruler ($9).
Froggy said Sara’s Rocket, who led all the way, travelled much better than last start when he finished second on her at Geelong over 1715 metres.
“She is beautiful ride once she relaxes, but the other day at Geelong, she was aggressive.
“Today, she was almost the opposite. Once she’d relaxed and worked with me, I thought at 1000m she was the winner.”
He said he decided pre-race to make use of Moe’s tighter turning track and take off early mindful that she had run so well in a stronger race over further on the more spacious Geelong course.
“She came up underneath me well, and when I asked her to quicken at the 600m she accelerated really well, and probably the lack of depth in the race, on wet ground, really played to her advantage.
“I just rode her like the best horse in a race, and she won accordingly.”
Assistant trainer James Edwards said credit had to go to Brimac Racings’ Brian McKiterick who bought the mare online after she had won a Port Macquarie maiden at her third start.
Brian, has been part of many Emsley Lodge-trained horses including prolific winner Prince Ziggy and recently set up Brimac Racing as a vehicle to race horses with friends in his own black racing colours which feature pink diamonds on the jacket and black diamonds on both the white sleeves and pink cap.
Importantly, Sara’s Rocket dispelled doubts about her handling rain affected ground and her disappointing showing when ridden midfield on soft ground at Terang two starts ago.
“She appreciated racing on the pace today and we can now plan a winter campaign for her with a lot more confidence,” James said.