Laristan wins Australian Guineas Day Race 2
A field of just five horses took to the track for Race 2 on Australian Guineas Day, the National Jockey Celebration Day – Victoria Plate over 2000m.
Port Veil won the jump and led the field around to the home straight with not much change in position. Race favourite Anudjawun settled last before easing out at the 600m.
With 200m to go jockey Craig Williams and Laristan moved up to take the lead and pulled away. While Anudjawun had a good run over the final straight, the Shaun Dwyer trained gelding could not catch Mourayan who held on for second. Hanks, wearing blinkers for the first time, finished fourth and Port Veil faded to finish last.
Today’s win is Laristan’s first victory in Australia from three starts and is his second start this preparation.
Laristan’s trainer David Hayes said that the four-year-old’s main aim was the 2011 Sydney Cup at Randwick on Saturday 23rd April, but depending on how the gelding pulls up after this race Hayes may consider running him in the Group 1 Australian Cup next weekend at Flemington. A decision will be made on Wednesday 9 March as to whether Laristan will run in the Australian Cup.
National Jockey Celebration Day – Victoria Plate Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 3 | LARISTAN(3) | Craig Williams | David Hayes | 53.5 | 2-2.49 |
| 2nd | 1 | MOURAYAN(2) | Nicholas Hall | Robert Hickmott | 59.5 | 2.5L |
| 3rd | 6 | ANUDJAWUN(5) | Reece Wheeler | Shaun Dwyer | 53.0 | 2.7L |
| 4th | 2 | HANKS(4) | Luke Nolen | Peter G Moody | 54.5 | 8.7L |
| 5th | 4 | PORT VELL(1) | Glen Boss | Colin Little | 53.0 | 10.7L |
| Src | 5 | RUBINACCI | Danny Nikolic | Tony Vasil |
Photo courtesy (c) Taron Clarke Photography
