WESTBURY trainer Jillian Stamford has the knack of having her dogs cherry ripe for major races and so was the case with Capetown Gem that powered home to win the Vets Medley final at Tattersall’s Park in Hobart last Thursday night.
Capetown Gem (Bond-Capetown Star) showed no zip at the start and she was still in the back half of the field nearing the top turn.
But in the run home she stretched out and weaved a passage through the field to grab victory in the shadows of the post to score by a neck from race leader Deadly Ernest ($25.50) with Posh Will ($12) over a length astern and just in advance of Serina’s Magic ($9.90).
The odds-on favourite Pippi’s Gold ($1.50) began well from box eight but was shunted off the track nearing the home turn and never recovered.
Stamfordsaid Capetown Gem had been working up to the win.
“Her form over this distance has been good without winning although she won over the distance inHobarta while back and we were confident she was in top shape for the race,”Stamford said.
Capetown Gem’s time of 34.69 seconds was her best over the trip and connections are about to raise the bar.
“Ultimately we are looking at the state heats of the National Distance Championship but along the way we are looming at the Winter Distance series in Launceston.”
“If she is competitive during that series then we’ll most likely look at the National Distance heats.
Capetown Gem has been very consistent without winning an abundance of races.
This latest win was only her sixth career win but she also has notched 27 minor placings form stake earnings of just over $16,000.
“She is from a litter we bred and that always makes it more satisfying, in fact all of the litter to get to the races have won.
The litter includes Samurai Kid that has won 11 and been placed 16 times from only 39 starts for almost $20,000 in stakes.
Capetown Gem is the only runner Stamford took to the Hobart meeting.
“I can’t remember the last time we travelled to Hobart with only one runner but it was great for the dog because she got to travel down in the back seat of the car,”Stamfordsaid.