Kent hits the mark with $41 winner at Caulfield

Brad Waters - Wednesday October 18

Punters gave her little hope but Cranbourne trainer Mick Kent hit a long-range target when Quilate upset her opposition in Wednesday's Group III Ladies' Day Vase (1600m) at Caulfield.

Advertisement
Quilate (navy & white silks) got up late to claim the Ladies' Day Vase at Caulfield. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Kent picked out the $150,000 race during the mare's winter spell before Quilate lived up to her trainer's assessment with a good first-up third at Mornington before she ran home well to score on the same track on September 30.

Bookies and punters thought the jump from Benchmark 70 grade to a Group III contest was beyond Quilate, who started at $41, but over-ran Flying Jess ($4.40) and Prompt Response ($3.90) in the last few bounds under the riding of apprentice Beau Mertens.

"We set this mare for this race a while ago," Kent said. "She ran really well first-up and won softly second-up and this was a target for us.

"We thought she had a bit more to give after her last prep and she had improved in her spell. She really thickened up and finally developed and got mature.

"They put the speed on a fair way out and she had to battle. I was very confident she was going to run a place and halfway (down the straight) she was going to do that and she wore them down."

The Lindsay Park-trained mare Hell Or Highwater started as the $3.80 favourite but faded to finish eighth after leading the field to the home turn.

Kent said he would give Quilate a chance at another Group III win at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day.

Meanwhile, Cranbourne trainer Udyta Clarke was thrilled to win the Italktravel Stakes (1200m) with Rich Charm.

Patrick Moloney steered Rich Charm ($5.50) home to score by a half-head over Keen Array ($5), who led for most of the race while Adelaide galloper So You Too ($9) was two lengths away in third.

Advertisment
More Reading...
2025 National Thoroughbred Week Launched
National Thoroughbred Week, the newly launched industry initiative designed to bring the public closer to the thoroughbred and our sport, is excited to confirm a truly trans-Tasman exposure, with hosts confirmed across all Australian and New Zealand regions.
Home Affairs 2YOs Shine at Official Sydney Trials
I Am Invincible’s exciting young sire son Home Affairs was the talk of the town after the yearling sales this year when his progeny topped both Magic Millions and Inglis Easter and at Randwick on Monday morning he had two runners at the official 2YO trials and both of them came out winners.
One to Watch – Warrnambool
So You Think is the first sire to hit 40 winners for the season and he did it with a three year-old filly that won easily on debut at Warrnambool on Monday in the Kia Ora Stud colours.
Career Best Victory for Wentwood Grange Favourite Yearling
Dean Hawkins admits to shedding a tear or two when With Your Blessing was sold as a yearling.
Breednet Follow the Official Sydney 2YO Trials - 4-6
All 2YO heats this morning run at Randwick over 850m with these trials the key factor in deciding fields for the Group III ATC Breeders Plate and Gimcrack Stakes in two weeks time.
Breednet Follow the Official Sydney 2YO Trials - 7 – 9
All 2YO heats this morning run at Randwick over 850m with these trials the key factor in deciding fields for the Group III ATC Breeders Plate and Gimcrack Stakes in two weeks time.
Pedigree Potential –NZB Ready to Run – Nicks that Click
A quality packed catalogue for the 2025 NZB Ready to Run Sale is now online and in the lead up to the sale we’ll go looking each week for some horses of interest that jump out on pedigree for various reasons.
Kiwi Cup Contender Headed to Australia
Melbourne Cup aspirant Trav secured his plane ticket across the Tasman with a pleasing performance over 2100m at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Monday September 22
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Tara Talks Racing - Trials and Racing
This week we’re talking trials after an insightful set of official 2YO trials in Sydney, plus some racing and how Fangirl will eventually go to stud with two Group I wins less on her resume than there should be.