After an especially eye catching performance by 3 year old filly INFINITIVE at Canterbury Park on Friday night, there is now a thought that the daughter of Hellbent may in fact reach a higher grade of racing over a staying trip, as she was particularly strong in the closing stages of the 1,900 metres event. Her rider James McDonald allowed the filly to settle in third position one off the rail initially however mid-race after another runner circled the field, INFINITIVE was relegated back to 5th spot although looking to travel well. At about the 600 metres mark, James elected to press the “go button” and the filly commenced a forward move, going widest of all at the turn for home, accelerating well and shortly after the race was all over with INFINITIVE a dominant winner. The filly now looks set to compete at Stakes level in coming weeks.

On Saturday at Sandown, it was ESPIONA returning to Victoria for the first time since her big win at Flemington during Cup week 15 months ago. It looked an ideal assignment for her with a nice ride by Jye McNeill enabling the daughter of Extreme Choice to win well in good time and add the 1,400 metres Group 3 Mannerism Stakes to her CV. It was great for her owners and supporters to see ESPIONA back in the winner’s circle again.

And so to Sunday at Ballarat where AMATI won impressively over 1,400 metres and in the words of her rider Michael Dee, “she did today what I thought she would do first up this preparation after her very good barrier jump out”. AMATI was the last Sebring yearling ever sold at a major public auction and we are indebted to Brett Howard from Randwick Bloodstock Agency for recommending the filly to Star to try to buy and to the Inglis team for endorsing Brett’s comments. It was so good to watch her sail past the field at the 150 metres mark on Sunday and to remind us what a top class colt Sebring was and how he continued to appear in the list of the top 10 stallions in this country until his premature death a few years ago. It would be wonderful if AMATI could aim for a higher level of competition and on based on this performance she may well reach those heights.

Congratulations to the winning INFINITIVE owners Boeara Holdings (Manager: Denise Dunphy), Paramount Racing (Manager: Kathryn Wood), Christine Cook, Patricia Egan, Margaret Frew, Margaret Roberts, Catherine O’Brien, Pauline Hepburn, Loretta Brackley, Robyn Sperling, Raelene Glasgow, Joan Evatt.

Congratulations to the winning ESPIONA owners  Leon Mugavin, McLeish Family Racing (Manager: David McLeish), Felgate Holdings (Manager: Paul Felgate), Anne Hickey, Boeara Holdings (Manager: Denise Dunphy), CGO Racing, Paramount Racing (Manager: Kathryn Wood), Martin Ive, Rachel Ive, Macedon Park Pty Ltd (Manager: Margie Sheldon), Dianne Handley.

Congratulations to the winning AMATI owners Boeara Holdings (Manager: Denise Dunphy), Paramount Racing (Manager: Kathryn Wood), Trent Hibbs, Michael Hibbs, Rebecca Hibbs, Ray Aurisch, The Late Helen Aurisch, Stride Racing (Manager: Paul Burgess), Anne Hickey, Peter Wandl.