Mornington trainer Matt Laurie has forgotten how to lose on Sydney racetracks.
After plundering the Sydney autumn carnival with three Group 1 wins from as many starters, Laurie struck again with Miss Icelandic in the Jeff Pendlebury Handicap (1000m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Miss Icelandic’s jockey Chad Schofield summed it up best when he said, “Matt goes good in Sydney.”
Laurie wasn’t on track for Miss Icelandic’s win but Schofield said after talking tactics with the trainer on Saturday morning, he was more confident about the mare’s chances.
“When I spoke to Matt he said the mare was going really well,” Schofield said.
“The race looked to map well for us on paper and it worked out exactly as we though with the favourite (Zealously) three-wide and Miss Icelandic settling on the outside of the leader, Passeggiata.
“I knew where Zealously was, I was happy he was three-wide, and I thought at the 300m we had the race pretty well sewn up.
“But credit to the leader, she gave a good kick and my mare had to dig deep but she always felt like the winner.”
Miss Icelandic ($10) wore down Passeggiata ($3.10) to win by a half-neck with Zealously ($2.20 favourite) fading late for third, beaten two lengths.
Laurie has had a remarkable run of success in Sydney this autumn with his wonder filly bagging a Group 1 double in the Vinery Stud Stakes and ATC Australian Oaks.
The trainer’s top two-year-old Vinrock capped an unbeaten debut season when he won the Group 1 Champagne Stakes.
Miss Icelandic also kept Laurie’s perfect Sydney autumn race record intact with the trainer preparing four winners from as many starters. Laurie is considering setting Miss Icelandic for the likely to aim Miss Icelandic at the Listed $200,000 Ortensia Stakes (1100m) at Scone on May 17.
Scone is also a likely next start for Les Vampires after his resolute win in the Tom Bingle Handicap (1800m).
A clever Adam Hyeronimus ride paved the way for Les Vampires ($6) to edge out Zaphod ($7) by a neck with Miracle Spin ($10) one-and-a-quarter lengths away third.
Favoured duo Flying Bandit ($3.20 favourite) and Saganti ($3.60) seemed to have their chance before finishing fourth and fifth respectively.
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