2023 PB Lawrence Stakes Results: Cox Plate Hope Mr Brightside Salutes First-Up
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The Robbie Laing trained first up specialist Missrock caused a minor upset when she upstaged the short priced favourite Heatherly in the Listed $120,000 SAJ Fruit Supply Carlyon Stakes (1000m) at The Valley today.
Heatherly’s chances weren’t helped when she played up in the barriers prior to the start and had to be released and vetted before being cleared to start.
The $2.15 favourite was then slightly slow to leave the gates and it took Damian Lane at least 200m before Heatherly found her usual spot out in front leading the field.
Lane let the Mathew Ellerton and Simion Zahra trained Heatherly slide on the corner and looked to have the race in her keeping but the early effort took its toll and she was unable to hold off the fast finishing Missrock ($7).
Craig Williams’ mount Lady Esprit ($10) ran home nicely to grab third spot.
Winning jockey Ben Melham gave Missrock a lovely run just behind the leaders before making his move coming to the home turn and the Fastnet Rock mare responded well to his riding at her first run back since running second to Vega Magic in the Group 1 $1m Darley Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 20.
Laing will now try to chase a Group 1 victory with Missrock in the $500,000 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on September 29.
“She will strip a lot fitter here in a fortnight in the Moir,” Laing said.
“Just going through the field, the barometer was which one of these could run second in a Goodwood Handicap and there wasn’t many of them.”
“She had a good run. Heatherly was giving her a good start on the corner, this mare has a bit of guts about her. She had run third in a Wakeful and fifth in an Oaks.”
“So she is pretty versatile and durable and has a ton off ability.”
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