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Plumaro full steam ahead to the QTIS Jewel

3 March 2018

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By Glenn Davis

It’s full steam ahead to the $250,000 QTIS Two-Year-Old Jewel at the Gold Coast in two weeks for exciting filly Plumaro.

The Toowoomba filly, ridden by apprentice Jag Guthmann-Chester, produced a stunning performance to win the QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday.

A daughter of first season sensation Spirit Of Boom, Plumaro had only one runner behind her on the home turn before unleashing whirlwind finish to down Only Wanna Sing by 1-3/4 lengths.

Fish ‘N’ Snitz did a good job to fill the minor placing, a further 2-1/4 lengths away.

The win reversed her previous result when runner-up as an odds-on favourite behind the Rob Heathcote-trained Only Wanna Sing.

Trainer Kevin Kemp admitted to having some nervous moments during the run but was confident Plumaro would prevail.

“It seems to be her pattern of racing to get back like that,” Kemp said.

“I wasn’t that worried when she was so far back as she’s got a great finish.

“If she pulls up okay after this run she’ll head to the big race at the Gold Coast in a fortnight.”

Kemp believes Plumaro will be better suited over further ground and is hopeful she will be around for the Brisbane winter carnival.

“She’ll have a little ease up after the QTIS Jewel and we’ll look at some of the better winter races,” he said.

“I think she’ll be looking for 1400 metres by then and who knows she might get a mile.”  

Earlier Northern Rivers galloper Morendi proved his versatility with a near all the way win in the Laser Clinics Toombul Benchmark 90 Handicap (2040m).

In a daring ride from apprentice Boris Thornton, Morendi held on for a short neck win over Exoteric with First Crush, a further three-quarters of a length away, third.

Morendi is renowned as a backmarker but Thornton had no hesitation taking the lead after 900 metres.

The win was in a stark contrast to Morendi’s previous victory for Michael Cahill when he bounced back to his best form this campaign coming from last in a field of five to win at Doomben on February 10.

Murwillumbah trainer Darren Graham was forced to claim on the five-year-old who was asked to carry topweight of 59kgs following last month’s’ win.

“They all wanted to lead but Boris didn’t want to be caught wide so he did the right thing by going to the front,” Graham said.

Graham rated Morendi good enough to campaign during last year’s Brisbane winter carnival and he is likely to again target them this winter.

The Toowoomba Cup (2000m) on April 7 is likely to be one of Morendi’s early targets.

Morendi has proven to be a great money spinner for connections with nine wins and 10 placings from 36 starts with prizemoney earnings or more than $328,000.

Racing Queensland webnews   March 3