A blessed run so far
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Robert Thompson gets Heavenly Glow thundering down the outside for the win
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Heavenly Glow has made it three Group races in a row with her first Queensland win in the Group 3 Hidden Dragon Doomben Roses 2020m.
Heading in as $2.80 favourite in the three-year-old fillies race worth $175,000, she did not disappoint punters romping home down the outside in the straight to get to the lead after travelling further back in the field.
The win was three quarters of a length ahead of Pentacity (Glen Colless) with Miss Maren (Craig Newitt) a short head behind in third.
Jockey Robert Thompson described the win, “Things worked out alright but then when they steadied up mid field, had to get out and cover a bit of extra ground. She’s a long striding filly and she doesn’t like to really get boxed up,” he said.
It follows up on Heavenly Glow’s (F3 Spinning World USA-Starsphere) successes in the Group 1 Australian Oaks and Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Stakes. The filly has now earned connections over three quarters of a million dollars from her nine wins from 16 starts. Interestingly the filly has never placed second, with three thirds.
She was picked up at the June Magic Millions Yearling Sale for just $10,000. Second placegetter Pentacity was also bought at the same sale for $25,000.
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Trainer Allan Denham (Noel Pascoe photos)
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There’s been a long connection between part-owner Ross Stint and Thompson who’s been aboard for all the wins. “Something like 28 years I’ve been riding for him. I’m still here and we’re great mates,” said Thompson.
Thompson recounts his number of wins as “3300 and something at this stage”. “Things are ticking good. When you get onto be able to ride a filly like her, it’s great to get up in the morning,” he said as a rider who nearly gave it all up. “I was out exactly two years and one week. There’s a thousand times I didn’t think I’d make it back but I’m glad I did.”
Trainer Allan Denham was pleased Heavenly Glow could do it again with a strong finish. “She’s a great strong filly. We were a little bit worried about the tight Doomben track so we had to ride her a little bit different. Probably went a little bit early on her, you know you can’t give them a long start around here.”
Thompson was confident in what the filly could possibly achieve. “She’s come a bloomin’ long way since I won a two-year-old Maiden on her at Taree to come to this stage. If she improves again who knows where she might finish up.”
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Hollie Roberts – May 20
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