By Tony McMahon
Neville Stewarts’ Oaklands Stud, the Capricornia Yearling Sale (CYS) and trainer Tom Button headed the honour roll associated with the time-honoured heats of the 2YO Breeders Plate (1050m) in Rockhampton last Friday.
Oaklands Stud, which for years has been the backbone of the local CYS in Rockhampton produced the trifecta in the $44,500 fillies division won so brilliantly by Button trained Miss Lot Won.
Ridden off the speed by Brisbane’s Matthew McGillivray, Miss Lot Won ($1.55) joined the leaders inside the 250 metres and dashed clear for a 3.5 length win from Serioustemptation ($26.00) with Queen Of Style (6.50) a long neck away third.
Miss Lot Won (ch f 2 Sidereus-Aadelaidee) sold for $17K at this year’s CYS and is a half-sister to Button’s six times winner Gypsy Toff another Oaklands bred winner of $155,000.
Raced by a huge syndicate of owners including Rockhampton’s Denis Cox who listened to the race from Zhenjiang, China, Miss Lot Won earned $32,800 for the win which came after a slashing Eagle Farm third on October 26.
Third placed Queen Of Style (Wicked Style-Antiquity) was an $18K purchase from the CYS while the Oaklands bred, runner-up Serioustemptation (x Sidereus) sold cheaply at the Magic Millions June Sale this year.
Winning rider Matthew McGillivray told the scrum of owners that swarmed him near the winners stall including a team from the Livanadream Racing Syndicates that there was “further improvement from Miss Lot Won”.
Biloela car dealer Al Grimshaw also has a share in Miss Lot Won but a much bigger one in Button trained Irish Ring Kicker (Ryan Wiggins, $3.60) who proved the benefit of race experience in winning the male Breeders Plate.
Backing up just six days after his race debut at Eagle Farm last Saturday, Irish Ring Kicker (Sebring-Kicker) won by 1.75 lengths from Ask Me Tomorrow the surprising $3.00 favourite.
Oaklands bred CYS youngster Aussie Hero ($31.00), trained by Clinton Thompson was third and may have finished much closer only for hanging outwards in the straight.
Irish Ring Kicker is raced by Al Grimshaw and Irishman, Brisbane based Gerry O’Toole and the pair also race Button’s good winner Mad Irish Tycoon.
Button, who recently shifted base to the Sunshine Coast after dominating Rockhampton racing for the last few seasons has certainly acquired the knack of training juvenile racehorses.
He deserves praise with the winning efforts of Miss Lot Won and Irish Ring Kicker, more so the former who was having her third career start in just 20 days which is something quite special.
Praise should also go to Emerald trainer Glenda Bell for rejuvenating former highly promising juvenile of the 2017/18 season in Brook’s Pleasure (Nathan Day, $4.20) who won the Class 1 (1050m).
Having her first start for Bell and first-up for nearly four months, Day rode Brook’s Pleasure so well that he almost became the victim of his strategic positioning of her in a waiting spot on the fence.
In a masterly display, Day found the way clear after being badly blocked in the straight and swamped the leaders in the closing stages.
The Brisbane based Day produced another top ride winning on John Wigginton trained Miss De Mirage ($4.80) in the Class 4 (1200m).
The finest and most impressive win of the day came from the training and jockey team of Angela and John Stephens with brilliant 3YO winner Lepreezy.
Lepreezy, a daughter of super sire Better Than Ready acquired from the 2019 Magic Million March Sale, thrashed her rivals including $1.28 favourite and runner-up Master Jamie to win by 4.75 lengths.
The win took Lepreezy’s record to four wins from eight starts and with three other placings she has now earned in excess of $100K.