Outside chance Aldini has produced an exceptional turn of foot in the final straight to win the Listed Spear Chief Handicap (1500m) at Brisbane’s Eagle Farm Racecourse this afternoon, ahead of Elmantosh and Choice Bro.
Aldini has produced a strong turn of foot to win the 2014 Spear Chief Handicap. Photo: Daniel Costello
Jumping from the gates only fairly, the Magic Albert gelding settled well within the pack, allowing early leaders Cuddlesome, Saluter and Playaction to set a particularly fast tempo over the back straight and rounding the bend.
Finding the final straight in a wide and awkward position, Aldini appeared well and truly out of contention before quickly finding the pace and charging home down the outside to finish comfortably in the clear.
Trainer David Kelly was pleased with Aldini’s performance in the Spear Chief Quality, but revealed the Listed event has not always been on the five-year-old’s radar this time in, following the victory.
“His last two runs have been great and things went his way today,” Kelly said
“He’s a get-back horse so he needs a lot of luck, and things just panned out beautifully for him.
“I was really happy with his win the other day at the Gold Coast; he wasn’t going to win and got to the line fantastic, and he pulled up well so I thought we might as well have a crack at it.
“He’s always been a promising little horse but has had a few niggling little issues.”
Jockey Craig Newitt delivered a sensational ride on Aldini in the Spear Chief Quality, and was quick to lay praise on the five-year-old’s impressive turn of foot.
“He travelled really good throughout the run and got there to the top of the straight and let rip good,” Newitt said immediately after the triumph.
“He’s obviously got plenty of ability.
“He (David Kelly) was confident he’d run well, obviously he was stepping up a lot in grade but we just had to roll on with good tempo with a good backed runner and he got that.”
Initially geared towards the South Grafton Cup (1600m) in July, Kelly revealed he will now have to re-think the avenue taken with Aldini this time in.
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2014 Spear Chief Quality Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 | ALDINI | David Kelly | Craig Newitt | – | 3 | 54kg | $14 |
| 2 | 13 | ELMANTOSH | Bruce W Hill | Glen Boss | 1L | 2 | 54kg | $7.50 |
| 3 | 7 | CHOICE BRO | John Sargent | Ric McMahon | 1.8L | 12 | 56kg | $18 |
| 4 | 3 | TRANSPORTER | John P Thompson | Jim Byrne | 1.9L | 1 | 58.5kg | $26 |
| 5 | 2 | STARTSMEUP | Bruce W Hill | Michael Cahill | 2.2L | 6 | 58.5kg | $11 |
| 6 | 1 | FILLYDELPHIA | Robert Heathcote | Damian Browne | 2.3L | 5 | 59kg | $9 |
| 7 | 8 | LADY ECHELON | Natalie Mccall | Timothy Bell | 2.5L | 10 | 54kg | $5.50F |
| 8 | 15 | PLAYACTION | Kristie Clark-Peoples | Jason Taylor | 3.8L | 13 | 54kg | $51 |
| 9 | 9 | FERMENT | John P Thompson | Ryan Wiggins | 4.6L | 4 | 54kg | $15 |
| 10 | 5 | GREY ASSIGNMENT | Brian Smith | Larry Cassidy | 4.9L | 7 | 57.5kg | $9.50 |
| 11 | 11 | CUDDLESOME | Les Ross | Chris Munce | 5.7L | 9 | 54kg | $21 |
| 12 | 10 | SALUTER | Robert Heathcote | Brenton Avdulla | 6.1L | 14 | 54kg | $15 |
| 13 | 12 | PLEIADES | John O’Shea | Kerrin McEvoy | 6.3L | 8 | 54kg | $8.50 |
| 14 | 4 | TYPHOON RED | Kevin Kemp | Nozi Tomizawa | 8.3L | 15 | 58kg | $19 |
| 15 | 6 | THAT’S THE ONE | Barry Baldwin | Tegan Harrison (a) | 12.1L | 11 | 57kg | $19 |
