Local trainer Robert Dennis won half of the eight-race card at Ascot Park on Friday, culminating with a special win by Sir Sterling in the Vale Tony Dennis (1400m).
The $40,000 race was run a month after the passing of Robert Dennis’ father, the multiple Group One-winning horseman Tony Dennis.
“It’s been a terrific day – it’s always great to train any winner, so to get four is hugely rewarding,” Robert Dennis said. “Winning the race named for Dad was a nice cherry on top.”
Sir Sterling went into Friday’s Rating 75 event on the back of a first-up victory over 1335m at Gore on September 21. Despite rising from 58.5kg to 60.5kg on Friday, he was backed into $4.80 equal favouritism.
Ridden by Daniel Bothamley, Sir Sterling settled in second before slowly but surely wearing down the front-running Buoyant and winning by half a head. Third-placed Maximus Augustus finished four and a half lengths behind the first pair.
“It’s really satisfying to go back-to-back with Sir Sterling,” Dennis said. “I thought he might need the run at Gore in order to have him ready for today. I didn’t expect him to win so well at Gore. He had more weight today, but he did the job very well again, which was great to see.
“We’ll see how he comes through this run today and then have a look at the programmes. He’s up to open grade now, so we’ll try to find some nice open handicaps for him through the coming weeks.”
Dennis also played a prominent role in Friday’s two $50,000 open handicaps. The Radiant One resumed with an eye-catching second behind the high-flying Martell in the STAC Weddings Handicap (1200m), and then Stolen Magic drew right away down the straight to win the Olphert Contracting Handicap (1600m) by six and a quarter lengths.
Stolen Magic has now had 18 starts for four wins and three placings, with the promise of more to come.
“Stolen Magic is really coming of age this time in,” Dennis said. “She’s always shown ability, but has just been a bit physically and mentally immature. She’s starting to become the finished package.
“We could look for a race for her during the New Zealand Cup Carnival, but she might be a better horse kept closer to home. My feeling is we’d also be better off targeting races in the autumn, particularly if she continues to improve the way she has been.”
Dennis was also pleased to see Azilee Star and Pretty Fly leave maiden ranks earlier on the Ascot Park card.
“Azilee Star just continues to improve,” Dennis said. “She’s been thriving since her last-start placing at Gore. She’s a bit of an unassuming filly and still has a bit of maturing to do, but she has plenty of ability and handles rain-affected ground well.
“Pretty Fly’s performance was expected first-up today. The break that we gave her has done her the world of good. She’s another one that’s always shown a lot of ability and is really going the right way.”
Azilee Star, Pretty Fly and Stolen Magic were all ridden by Donovan Cooper, who completed a winning quartet of his own with victory on the Graham Eade and Brooke Kincaid-trained Orepuki Gem in the Vale Peter Williams (2200m). – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
