Image – Thoroughbred Park.
On Friday, the Norm Gardner-trained Miss Ostend continued her hot run of form at Canberra, winning the $34,000 Tony Campbell Memorial Cup (1400m).
Ridden by Danny Beasley, the Zoustar mare started the $2.80 favourite and was involved in an entertaining head-to-head battle with the Keith Dryden-trained Trooper Knuckle (Alysha Collett, $3.30) down the Canberra straight before triumphing by a half-head.
Named in honour of legendary local caller Tony Campbell, Gardner was thrilled to win the race for connections.
“He was a great man, Tony Campbell, and he was great for this town,” Gardner told Sky Racing’s Graeme White in the post-race interview.
“Just like when I won the Ted Ryder Cup, it’s great to win these races in honour of these people that were so partisan with their support.”
Despite the excellent result, Gardner was lamenting that his five-year-old was not considered for The Kosciuszko, which will be run and won at Royal Randwick on Saturday, October 14.
“You know what surprises me? This horse was never considered in The Kosciuszko, and look at the form she’s got, and there’s horses in there 60/1 that shouldn’t be there,” Gardner said.
“Look at the form this mare is in, and no one even considered her, and it just goes to prove that the concept is good, but it’s flawed.”
However, the Canberra trainer will put that disappointment behind him with the $250,000 Barn Dance (1300m) at Royal Randwick on November 7 and the Magic Millions Country Cup (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 13 in his peripherals for the in-form Miss Ostend.
“She will probably freshen up now and go to the Barn Dance, and she is (eligible for the) Magic Millions County Cup,” Gardner said.
“She struggled today with the big weight, so we’ll talk to the owner, and we might even put her in the paddock and bring her back for the Magic Millions County Cup.”
Gardner’s team has been in flying form this week, with the stable landing a double at Goulburn on Tuesday.
Teaming up with Mathew Cahill, up-and-comer Destructive Diva was too classy in the 1400m Class One Handicap, and another handy type in Miss Ghent was ridden to victory by Jess Taylor in the 1600m Benchmark 58 Handicap.
“I’ll take it when it comes,” Gardner laughed.
On a big day at Canberra, the Matthew Kelley-trained Prophet’s Pride (Jack Martin, $10) won the Race Caller’s Cup (1000m).
For all results, click here.
