Damien Oliver capped off a massive day at Morphettville on Saturday riding home Spright to a maiden Group 1 win in the Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m).
After claiming the Group 1 Australasian Oaks aboard Princess Jenni in the race prior, Oliver made it a double aboard the Garry Frazer trained five-year-old – who was also installed as the favourite.
Spright’s dazzling turn of foot was on full display as she gunned down Cool Passion, who looked home for all money on the inside with less than 100m to go. The mare by Hitchinbrook swooped in late to nab the win at the line, her first Group 1 victory after placing second in the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley back in March.
Spright, above, has firmed into the favourite ahead of next fortnight’s Group 1 Goodwood at Morphettville. Photo Credit: Steve Hart.
The victory marked 117 Group 1 wins for Oliver, but the champion jockey admits he was a little unsure of where the pair would wind up after a slow start to the race.
“The first quarter didn’t seem that fast, but the second quarter they kind of increased and I felt myself getting a little bit further back than I would’ve liked, but you can’t push this mare to go before she’s ready” Oliver said after the race.
“I just had to back her finish, and waited until I straightened and peeled off, the last 200-300m were amazing.”
Saturday marked Spright’s fifth run this prep after finishing seventh in last month’s Group 2 Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Randwick. Garry Frazer’s son Jordan was on hand to witness the win and remained bullish as to where Spright was headed in two weeks’ time.
“The Goodwood is here in two weeks; she’ll be here lining up and we’ll go from there” Frazer said.
Spright is now the $4.00 favourite with Ladbrokes ahead of the $750,000 race on May 18. Things looked a little uncertain on Saturday in the late stages of the race, but Frazer always had faith in Oliver and his strong form at Morphettville.
“Olly had her in a good spot, he was back second last, but he wasn’t far off them. He was always in a good spot to pounce” Frazer went on to say.
