By ROY ASPINALL
THE international visitors have dominated this spring and that continued on Saturday when the Andre Fabre-trained, Au Revoir won the $351,000 Group 2 weight-for-age Deadly Designs Zipping Classic (2400 metres) on the Sportingbet Park, Sandown Hillside track.
The internationals had swept all before them with the ill-fated Japanese horse, Admire Rakti, winning the Crown Golden Ale Caulfield Cup. The Irish-trained, Adelaide, thrashed the opposition in the Cox Plate and then the Germans stepped up and won the Melbourne Cup with Protectionist. Now the fourth international has won a major event and Au Revoir represented France.
With the exception of Admire Rakti they will all remain here to be prepared by local trainers with Au Revoir joining the Peter Moody stables, Adelaide joining Chris Waller and Protectionist, Kris Lees. Owned by OTI Racing, managing owner Terry Henderson, was thrilled with the victory and confirmed that the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400 metres) at Sha Tin in December is likely to be the next port of call for Au Revoir. He added that the horse will be given a light autumn before planning for next spring with the Melbourne Cup the main target.
Au Revoir, ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, showed great fight at the finish to win by 0.2 lengths from Epingle, who was also second last year, with Prince of Penzance 2.45 lengths third.
After mixed fortunes this spring it was a good day for OTI Racing making it race to race doubles after previously winning the $150,000 Listed Sportingbet Sandown Cup (3200 metres) with Renew. It was a great day for young Ballarat trainer, Archie Alexander, who has only had his licence a few months. He and OTI Racing now have another horse qualified for next year’s Melbourne Cup. With Chris Symons in the saddle, Renew raced up near the pace early but was then shuffled back and came with a powerful run in the straight to score by 0.2 lengths from Like a Carousel, also second last year, with Shoreham 1.95 lengths away third. Originally from England it was Renew’s fourth start and first win here.
Co-trainers, David Hayes and his nephew Tom Dabernig secured the trainers division of the Spring Championship when Petrology scored an outstanding win in the Group-2 $351,000 Sportingbet Sandown Guineas (1600 metres). They secured the $50,000 first prize of which $25,000 goes to their chosen charity, Make a Wish. The Sandown Guineas has a reputation for producing future stars and Petrology looks to be heading that way. He is now showing his best form and David Hayes said he will be put away with eyes on the major autumn three-year-old events. Well back to the turn Petrology, ridden by Nick Hall, stormed home to thrash the opposition scoring by 2.5 lengths from Stratum Star with Berisha 3.5 lengths away third.
The Sandown Guineas was the middle leg of a winning treble for David Hayes and Tom Dabernig having earlier won the $120,000 Listed City of Greater Dandenong Stakes (1400 metres) with Wawail and then added the $150,000 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1300 metres) with Fast ‘N’ Rocking. The latter was ridden by Dwayne Dunn and the win secured for him the jockeys’ division of the Spring Championship. His charity partner is Beyond Blue.
