East coast rain has brought mixed results for the stable over the past few weeks, and while it lessened the chances of some of our starters it provided good opportunity for others that have been knocking on the door, with two runners picking up wins on Heavy 9 tracks. GRIMOIRE had been running consistently this prep, placed each time prior to his last start unplaced attempt at Warwick Farm. Lining up in the Irresistible Pools and Spas BM 76 Hcp over 1300m, the chestnut by MAGIC ALBERT was partnered by James McDonald and started favourite in the field of eight. Jumping well from the barriers, the gelding was restrained to get cover. Making a move from the 500m, it was a grinding win and a strong ride from James who rode the gelding out to win by a length.
George Bernard Shaw may have coined the term 'progress is impossible without change..', but LIGHTNING NIC personified it at Kembla Grange with a brilliant performance in the Pam Catterall Memorial Cup with a strong 2.0 length victory. It was a change in gear (blinkers), jockey (Adam Hyeronimus) and a heavy surface for the 5yo NICCONI mare, who was positioned in the second half of the field in the opening stages of the race. Moving up in the field from the 600m, Adam elected to take the mare to the outside in the straight where she really let down, chalking up her fourth win at the track in impressive fashion.
