Not content with victory at Group III level just 30 minutes beforehand, the Gary Vile and Alysha Collett combination
went one better when they combined to score with Miss Appleton in the Group II Kamada Park Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni on Sunday.
Collett had landed Jacksstar a narrow but deserved winner of the Hotel Coachman
sponsored Manawatu Cup after a heady ride one race earlier. On Miss Appleton
she again displayed an impeccable judgement of pace as she settled the
free-going six-year-old mare in the trail behind a flying La Fille En Jeu in the
early stages of the contest.
With the pacemaker setting a scorching pace in front Collett bided her time
before issuing a challenge that saw Miss Appleton skip clear of her rivals
early in the run home. More known as a
1200 metre specialist, Miss Appleton was cuddled up by Collett as a wall of
horses charged at her in the final stages.
The Align mare found plenty as she staved off the challenges of runner-up Summer's
Day and third placed Mighty Solomon to score by three quarters of a length in a
smart 1.22.81 for the 1400 metre distance.
It was the mare's seventh career win and a reward for some remarkable
consistency that has seen her finish outside the top three only once in nine
starts during her current campaign.
"I'm just rapt to see her get that win for the boys who own her as she deserved
to win a good race," said Vile.
"There was some doubt at weight-for-age over the 1400 metres but I knew there
would be some good pace in the race and that would help her immensely.
"Alysha rode her a treat and the mare kicked very strongly and held them out
well."
Vile was quick to pay tribute to Collett who only picked up the rides on Miss
Appleton and Jacksstar on Saturday evening after the meeting was postponed for
24 hours when a horse slipped badly in the first race run on Saturday.
"Sam Wynne was booked to ride both horses on Saturday but when the meeting was
postponed she had to fly back for her commitments at Gore," he explained.
"Alysha has ridden a little bit for me in the past so I was pleased to get a
senior jockey who could ride comfortably at the 53kgs that Jacksstar carried.\
"Both rides were top class so it has been a very very pleasing day." – NZ
Racing Desk
Group Two Win for Miss Appleton
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