Above: Aqua D’Amore reels in Stamen as the pair races away from Wild Classic in the Eclipse Stakes. Aqua D’Amore went on to win by a length.– Glen Atwell
THE final group race of the Melbourne Spring Carnival was run at Sandown on Saturday, with Sydney mare Aqua D’Amore scoring by a length to win the Eclipse Stakes.
Sandown Classic winner Roman Arch was a late scratching from the race after suffering from the effects of a jellyfish sting received during a swim at Carrum beach that morning.
The withdrawal saw the punters |turn their attention to Cranbourne runner Show Barry ($6 starting price) and |short price favourite Break The Vault ($2.80 SP).
Show Barry led the field strongly, and had punters scanning their form guides, focusing on his winning Cranbourne Cup run in October.
But his top weight of 57 kilograms slowed his progress up the hill toward the finishing post as the swoopers prepared to launch runs down the outside.
As Show Barry slowed, Break The Vault had to be eased off his heels towards the finish.
In a race where the extra distance should have suited Break The Vault, trainer John Hawkes might have had a few choice words to apprentice jockey Blake Shinn after the race, who never seemed to settle his mount into a favourable position.
Aqua D’Amore ($10.30 TAB) and Stamen ($8 SP) both launched impressive runs, but it was the Gai Waterhouse-trained horse which best responded.
Had Roman Arch made it to the starting barriers, based on the running of the race the tough gelding would have definitely figured in the finish, quite possibly with a win.
The first Sandown twilight race meeting for the season will be held tomorrow (Friday) with the first race at 2.30pm and the last at just after 7pm.
The concept of Friday twilight meetings was trialed at Sandown in February of 2004 and proved a success and this season there are two twilight meetings scheduled at Sandown, tomorrow and on 3 March.
Course admission will be $7 for adults, $4 concession and children under 18 accompanied by an adult free. All admission will be free after 5.30pm.
