Battle Ready (centre) has cause an upset to win Rosehill Race 1
The Gary Portelli-trained General Nediym gelding Battle Ready went out as the $41 roughie in Rosehill Race 1 and proved “if you’re not in it you can’t win it” as trainer Portelli stated after the win.
Gorgeous Amelia burst out of the barriers to grab a narrow advantage over the odds-on favourite Flying Empress and take the early lead while eventual winner Battle Ready settled well in third.
On the turn for home Gorgeous Amelia was still in front but then the field went five across on the straight and the favourite was in trouble.
With 200m to go Battle Ready and the Grahame Begg-trained Magita pulled away from the field to battle it out for the win.
On the line Battle Ready just nudged out Magita by a nose while Gorgeous Amelia hung on to finish third in a photo result.
Fourth went to the Clarry Conners-trained Georgette Silk, Conners gearing up for Rosehill Race 3 when his Golden Slipper chance Satin Shoes will start the favourite in the Group 2 Reisling Stakes at 1:30pm (AEDST).
Disappointment of the race was $1.75 favourite Flying Empress who struggled with the slow pace and in a very ordinary run faded to finish dead last.
With a good gate and great ride by hoop Kathy O’Hara, Battle Ready scored his third career win from 12 starts today.
Purchased for $55,000 as a yearling at the Inglis Premier Sales, Battle Ready has now won that back in prize money for his connections with today’s winnings boosting his total earnings to $56,000.
The Rosehill racing and betting action heats up with Race 2 the $300,000 Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) at 12:50pm (AEDST) where Blue Diamond Stakes winner and Golden Slipper favourite Sepoy is the odds-on favourite to win.
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2011 Bacardi Handicap Results & Finishing Order
| Pos | Horse | Margin | Price | Barrier | Benchmark | Weight | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 6.BATTLE READY | $41.00 | 1 | 59.00 | 53 | Kathy O’Hara | Gary Portelli | |
| 02 | 3.MAGITA | 0.1 | $3.60 | 5 | 67.00 | 53 | Brenton Avdulla | Grahame Begg |
| 03 | 4.GORGEOUS AMELIA | 0.4 | $7.50 | 2 | 65.00 | 53 | Brendan Ward | Barbara Joseph & Paul Jones |
| 04 | 1.GEORGETTE SILK | 1.4 | $14.00 | 3 | 77.00 | 58 | Hugh Bowman | Clarry Conners |
| 05 | 2.FLYING EMPRESS | 1.8 | $1.80F | 4 | 74.00 | 56.5 | Corey Brown | Joseph Pride |
| SC | 5.PLEASURE OR PAIN | NA | 63.00 | 53 | Glen Boss | Brett Partelle |
