Asiago a potential Oaks filly, says Bowman
For the second year in a row, Godolphin prevailed in the Kembla Grange Classic (Gr 3, 1600m) as Asiago (Medaglia D’Oro) took the fillies’ feature yesterday in a blanket finish with the first seven across the line separated by a length.
The James Cummings-trained Asiago settled midfield under Hugh Bowman, off what was a strong tempo. Upon straightening, Bowman attempted to bring her between runners, although she looked to be cluttered for room multiple times in the run for home. However, he managed to give her just enough space to send her out after the leader Shout The Bar (Not A Single Doubt), grabbing the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained filly on the line to inflict her first defeat. The John O’Shea-prepared All Saints’ Eve (Sacred Falls) charged home for third.
Last year, Godolphin’s Pohutukawa (Medaglia D’Oro) looked a potential star in the making after sweeping home for a dominant victory in this race, but she is yet to win again from 10 starts since. However, stable representative Darren Beadman said that, while Pohutukawa was already at her peak for this race in 2019, Asiago is only just starting to learn what the game is about.
“It was a very gutsy performance by the filly,” Beadman told Sky Racing. “Last preparation, she went from winning a maiden to winning the Spring Stakes (Gr 3, 1600m) at Newcastle and it’s always a good form race, that.
“It was encouraging because she only had the one trial leading into the other day and she ran a nice third first-up, she just knocked up late. There was plenty of improvement to come and the penny is just starting to drop with her now. So for her to get another stakes win against a pretty stellar type of field is promising.
“She likes give in the ground so there could be something nice there for her during the tail-end of the carnival in Sydney or even something in Brisbane. I’m sure James will work that out. She’s a beautiful filly, she takes everything in her stride. Give Hughie ten out of ten for that ride too, it was a beautiful ride.”
Asiago holds entries for both the Coolmore Legacy (Gr 1, 1600m) and the ATC Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) on April 11, with Bowman suggesting the longer trip may be more suitable for her.
“I think she has Oaks written all over her,” the rider said. “I don’t even know what her pedigree is, I should have done my homework before riding her, but she will eat up 2000 metres. I think she will go beyond that. The team will work out what the plans are for her but she certainly has a bright future.”
A Godolphin homebred, Asiago is the fourth foal – and the third to race – out of Disputes (Manton), a winner of the 2012 Reginald Allen Quality (Listed, 1400m). She is now a five-time winner from 11 starts and has $290,745 in prize money to her name.
Begg sets sights on spring with Nonconformist
One horse that will not progress to Sydney for The Championships is the Graham Begg-trained Nonconformist (Rebel Raider), who swept to a dominant three and a quarter length victory in the Alister Clark Stakes (Gr 2, 2040m) at Moonee Valley last night.
Three of the last four winners of the Alister Clark have progressed to the ATC Derby (Gr 1, 2400m), with both Hardham (Redoute’s Choice) and Tally (Street Cry) placing in the blue riband event. It would seem a logical next step for Nonconformist, but Begg said that the three-year-old – still in his first preparation, having debuted in late November – would instead be bound for a paddock.
“I’m not tempted, he’s going out next week,” said Begg. “He’ll have eight weeks out, he’ll be back before it gets too cold. We might think about something in the spring with him – maybe a Caulfield Cup. You never know, he’s won at Caulfield and he’s run well there. His rating points will go up for that win tonight but he’s probably still going to have to do a bit to qualify, I guess. It’s a nice problem to have, anyway.”
Nonconformist is a homebred for the Henwood family and has now won three of his six starts, banking $288,650 in the process. He is the first of only two foals for his dam Good Thinking (Hold That Tiger); she produced a Master Of Design (Redoute’s Choice) colt in 2018 but died in January, 2019.
Rebel Raider (Reset) is also deceased, having died suddenly due to a ruptured aorta at Wyndholm Park in Victoria in October last year. Nonconformist is the dual Derby winner’s fourth individual stakes winner, joining Group 3 victors Pretty Punk and Waging War and Listed winner Wasabi Bob.