After looking to have been run down in the closing stages of the feature race at Scone Racecourse on Friday the Sam Kavanagh-trained import Tales Of Grimm dug deep and fought back to hold off a fast finishing Frespanol in the Scone Cup 2015.
Tales Of Grimm (pictured at Rosehill) fought hard to win the 2015 Scone Cup. Photo: Steve Hart.
Distorted Humor six-year-old Tales Of Grimm had been set by Kavanagh for this afternoon’s $200,000 Listed Emirates Park Scone Cup (1600m) for about three months according to his Rosehill-based trainer who was thrilled with the way that plan paid off on race day.
“It has been a tough few months so this is a pretty big result,” Kavanagh said post-win.
“I’ve had him set for this since about three months ago and it’s always nice when a plan comes together.”
Ridden to perfection by one of the best in the business Craig Williams, Tales Of Grimm was settled around midfield throughout with the Scone Cup field led around by the Chris Waller-trained Strawberry Boy who was switched on with the blinkers.
The six-year-old led from the likes of Monton while Kourkam settled third after jumping from the inside alley and Great Esteem, who couldn’t get into a spot early, moving up into fourth.
Tales Of Grimm was racing deep mid-race but when they approached the home turn he started to pick up and close the gap.
He went up to challenge Strawberry Boy down the straight, collected the frontrunner and hit the lead.
It was the longer priced of Gai Waterhouse’s two Scone Cup contenders who presented the big danger with Choisir four-year-old Frespanol charging hard down the outside with a big run.
The two turned the finish into a two-horse-race for the line with Tales Of Grimm just getting there on the inside by the bob of the head to hold off Waterhouse’s gelding and collect the Scone Cup victory.
Williams did a beautiful job to get the galloper to respond under pressure, swapping hands with the whip and getting every little bit out of Tales Of Grimm who showed big improvement on his last start seventh in the Royal Randwick 1000 (1400m) from April 18.
Finishing off the Scone Cup trifecta in third was then the John O’Shea-trained Exceed And Excel four-year-old San Diego who fought his way back into the field after missing the start and finding himself a long way back early.
“He’s had his share of issues,” Kavangh said of Tales Of Grimm, who is now likely to be sent to the paddock to prepare for a spring comeback targeting richer Sydney races.
“We’ve been keen on this for a couple of months and I had him ready for this race the last few weeks.
“He tried hard and fought back so it was a great win.”
The ace racing at Scone continues on Saturday with the Dark Jewel Classic for the fillies and mares so head along to Ladbrokes.com.au now and get behind your favourites at the right price!
