 John Symons, the man who fronts the Macedon Lodge complex owned by
Kurt Stern, has scored an early and somewhat surprising double at Sandown today.The two-year-old filly Macedon Lady made it back to back wins when
she proved too strong for Sneeze in the July Handicap over 1400 metres.
In a driving finish the daughter of Filante had a long neck
to spare over the John Hawkes trained runner-up.
Macedon Lady, with Steven King in the saddle, was having
just her fourth start to date and she wrapped after her second successive win. Before
today she was a last start winner at Seymour.
The Symons stable made it a race to race double in the very
next event when Prince Errol scored a shock win in the Winlake Handicap over 1000 metres.
In another close finish the son of Prince of Birds was able
to gun down the highly fancied Almighty Yallah to win by a neck.
Starting at $31 on course and paying in excess of $50 on
SuperTAB, Prince Errol, a four-year-old gelding, was ridden to victory by leading
apprentice Rhys McLeod.
Not only did Macedon Lady and Prince Errol give John Symons
an early double, but it was also a double for owner and breeder Martin O'Connor, a leading
Melbourne based accountant.
Meanwhile, the star of the Macedon Lodge stables Bel Esprit
is expected to make his return in the Group One Manikato Stakes and not the Group Two
Ascot Vale Stakes at originally thought.
The Manikato Stakes, which will be run at Moonee Valley on
September 14, is the first Group One race of the new season and will be run over 1200
metres.
PIC - Quentin
Lang. |
