VRC Country Race Day Review

Tassie apprentices dominate

Jackson Radley capped a red-letter day for apprentices at Flemington on Saturday, especially those originally from Tasmania, when he partnered Seafall to victory in one of the day’s features.

Radley continued his good association with the Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained mare, guiding her to victory in the $150,000 The David Bourke (1620m) – a qualifier for the $200,000 Listed Winter Championship Final in a fortnight’s time.

Seafall’s win came two races after Radley won the $150,000 Bruce Gadsden Handicap (1420m) aboard Seafall’s Lindsay Park stablemate Stylish.

“It’s good to do this, especially for the Lindsay Park team,” he said.

“It’s already been talked about, them leaving me on a couple of their horses in the Finals Series races and I haven't had a good day at Flemington before, so I'm glad to get a couple of winners on the board.”

Radley’s two winners were not exactly roughies – Seafall started $5.50 and Stylish $7 – but they weren’t as popular with punters as Jabez Johnstone’s.

After winning the second race aboard $3.40 favourite Decalogue, the Tassie 3kg claimer was successful aboard his Ciaron Maher-trained stablemate and the day’s shortest-priced favourite, Ten Commandments ($2.10), in Race 5.

“Obviously none of this would have been possible without the support I’m getting and Ciaron Maher and his team and I can’t thank them enough,” Johnstone said.

“He’s given me really good support and put a lot of trust in me.”

Houston, Cartwright also successful

The Tassie duo’s doubles weren’t the only races that went to apprentices with local riders Ryan Houston and Luke Cartwright also successful.

Houston got the ball rolling when he provided Ben Brisbourne with his first winner as a Flemington trainer when he partnered Fontein Jewel to victory in the opening event.

Melbourne’s leading apprentice Luke Cartwright put an exclamation mark on the red-letter day for young riders when he was successful aboard Obvious for Greg Eurell.

Fontein the jewel in Brisbourne’s Flemington crown

Any win Ben Brisbourne achieves with Fontein Jewel is a special one, but the two-year-old’s win in the first race held particular significance.

The Lucky Vega colt’s win in the TAB We’re On Handicap (1420m) was the young English trainer’s first since being granted stables on-course at Australia’s most famous racecourse in early May.

“It the third Flemington winner for us, but the first one since we've been had a base down here,” Brisbourne said.

“So that’s a big tick and hopefully it gets us noticed a little bit more, especially with these young younger horses.

“It just proves that what we've put in place so far is working and we look forward to plenty more successful, hopefully.”

Fontein Jewel’s win came just over five years after her dam, Fontein Diamond, won the $250,000 Country Mile Final at Moonee Valley on All-Star Mile Day and Brisbourne said it was special to be winning good races with her son.

Conron back thanks to Vegas Jack

Not that long ago, Craig Conron had reason to think he’d never be back at Flemington as a trainer, but on Saturday he was welcomed back into the winner’s room.

The Geelong horseman made a triumphant return when Vegas Jack continued his winning run in the $150,000 Country Racing It’s Got It All Trophy (2540m).

It was Conron’s first winner at Flemington since Distant Melody provided him with his most recent Black Type success, during the 2007 Melbourne Cup Carnival, and the 62-year-old was delighted to be back.

“It's great to be back here and it's great to be having a winner here,” he said.

“I get a kick anytime they win, but when it's a Saturday at Flemington it’s a much bigger kick.”

Vegas Jack ($9.50), who was ridden by Dean Yendall, scored by 1-1/4 lengths from The Western Front ($5.50) with Bold Soul ($7) half-a-length away third.

Conron hasn’t had many opportunities to head to Flemington until the past couple of seasons, mind you, taking six years away from trainer after brief stints in Tasmania and the Northern Territory.

He spent his time in between helping his daughter run her mobile coffee van business.

Eight years between drinks for Alex Rae

Conron wasn’t the only trainer to break a lengthy Flemington drought on Saturday, with Alex Rae registering his second winner at the venue.

The young Cranbourne trainer produced Imperatriz’s half-brother I’mateez to win the $150,000 Rod Johnson 3YO Handicap (1100m).

It was Rae’s first winner at Flemington since his dream introduction on Oaks Day 2018 when Cochada won the Country Final.

“I trained my first winner here with my first runner in 2018 and it’s been eight years between drinks,” Rae said.

“Everywhere else been pretty fruitful, so this is a great result.”

De Bergerac wins en route to sprint final

Grahame Begg loaded the bases in the $150,000 Brian Beattie Handicap (1100m) with three runners who shared a family link and one of them was successful.

De Bergerac rounded out his preparations for the $175,000 Listed Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final (1200m) with victory in the 1100m event.

The five-year-old, who started $4.60, made it three wins down the Flemington straight when he got home by a long neck from Recommendation ($15), who was 1-1/4 lengths clear of Winnasedge ($8).

Not far off the placegetters were Royal Insignia and Samangu, who are not only De Bergerac’s stablemates but also share a family link.

Royal Insignia, who finished fifth, is a half-brother to De Bergerac, being out of the Tobougg mare Yau Chin, who is also the dam stallion Written By, the sire of sixth placegetter Samangu.

Begg trained Written By to victory in the 2018 Blue Diamond, one of his biggest victories since relocating to Victoria around 10 years ago.