Preferment - New Winner

In a nail-biting finish to Sunday’s Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m), the roar of adoring connections was heard in the Ellerslie grandstand when maiden galloper Mustang Morgan saluted to become the second stakes-winner for his Victoria Derby winning sire Preferment.

Never further back than fourth in his five starts since joining the Bjorn Baker stable, Godolphin’s 6yo Street Boss gelding Pericles secured his first G1 victory, winning the MRC Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, becoming the third elite level winner for his dam.

The Michael Mehegan trained Bossy Benita broke her maiden on February 26 last year and 12 months on the four year-old So You Think mare is now a stakes-winner after scoring a bold front running victory in the $200,000 Group III MRC Mannerism Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

The $400,000 Group II ATC Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday offered up a mouthwatering selection of some of the most desirable three year-old colts in the country, but the victor was a gelding that has more owners than all the other runners put together.

Trainer Clinton McDonald recorded his second G1 MRC Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) victory in the last three years when his Magnus filly Streisand further improved off a last start success in the G2 MRC Blue Diamond Prelude (F) to take out Caulfield's $2m juvenile feature by three quarters of a length.

With the betting suggesting the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable would win the $750,000 G1 MRC Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday, it was the outsider of their two runners in the race that produced the goods as Too Darn Hot 4yo Tropicus was simply too strong.

Minutes after 60/1 shot Power Beau won the Listed SAJC City Of Marion Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville to become the 28th stakes winner for Darley’s Brazen Beau, the Michael Freedman trained Cinsault won the G2 ATC Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill to become the 29th stakes winner for her sire.

The Golden Slipper market was again given an almighty shake up when the Philip Stokes trained Wild Ruler colt Stretan Ruler put the Sydney juveniles to shame when thrashing them to win the$300,000 Group II ATC Silver Slipper (1100m) by a wide margin.

Promising three-year-old Mustang Morgan will get his first taste of Australian racing when he heads to Rosehill on Saturday to contest the Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m).

What a difference three weeks has made in the life of rugged stayer Final Return.