Pureness wins the 2011 Ajax Stakes after being last away from the barriers
The Races.com.au late mail tip and punters favourite Pureness has won the $175,000 Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Guineas Day this afternoon in a gritty victory for the improving gelding.
After missing the start and being the last away from the barriers, Gai Waterhouse’s Tale Of The Cat four-year-old Pureness overcame their poor beginnings to come good for the punters in the Ajax Stakes result.
Last start Pureness had run a game third to Triple Elegance in the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) at Warwick Farm from an unsuitably wide barrier 11 draw.
Having come up with gate four for the Ajax and after the early scratching of Brazilian Pulse from the field, Pureness started as the short-priced favourite at around $2.25.
With the favourite missing the start, the early front runners were Les Bridge’s Mr Clangtastic and the ever determined seven-year-old Mentality.
At around the 600m mark Mentality was taken to the lead by in-form hoop Corey Brown, while the favourites looked in trouble early with the likes of Pureness, Lebrechaun and Under The Eiffel caught worse than midfield.
On the home straight Mentality fought on hard but in a tough performance Pureness and star jockey Glen Boss moved up the middle to level with the leader before pushing ahead.
Boss never panicked aboard Pureness and the pair gave a super effort after missing the start and having to go wide to pull clear and finishing three quarters of a length ahead of Mentality on the line while Lebrechaun was also impressive running third just a further neck back.
Today’s win was the fifth from eight starts for Pureness who has now amassed over $230,000 in career prize money.
Meanwhile the eye-catching run by Mentality has the Flying Spur gelding on track for a shot at the $2 million Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 16.
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