In Brief
- Le Cadeau produces career best effort to win 2YO Magic Millions classic.
- Deroche warms up for Vamos.
- Gaffney celebrates best day at races.
Spreyton trainer Leanne Gaffney celebrated one of her biggest days in racing by saddling up both Tasmanian Magic Millions feature race winners in Launceston on Sunday.
Gaffney prepared Newhart to win the $100,000 Ladbrokes Devonport Cup last month but her feature double yesterday raised the bar.
Her quality two-year-old gelding Le Cadeau powered his way to a brilliant win in the 2YO Classic (1200m) and her outstanding filly Deroche scored an all-the-way win in the 3 & 4 YO edition over 1400 metres.
Le Cadeau delivered a career-best effort, coming from near last on the home turn to career away from his rivals to score by a half-length from first-starter Warrior Prince (Billy Egan) with another first-starter Thunberg (Troy Baker) almost two lengths astern.
It was the gelding’s third win from six starts this season with this latest win soaring his stake earnings close to $100,000.
“I am so rapt with Le Cadeau because he’s been up for quite a while and he’s done a remarkable job with today’s win the icing on the cake for him,” Gaffney said.
Rider Bulent Muhcu had Le Cadeau ($3.30 fav) settled at the rear after being slowly away, but the rider never panicked and when he eased the gelded son of Statue of Liberty to the outside in the home straight he was too strong.
In the other Magic Millions feature, Deroche went into her race on the back of a luckless second in the Group 3 Bow Mistress Stakes in Hobart two weeks earlier and punters warmed to that form by sending her around the $1.22 favourite.
With Craig Newitt aboard, Deroche found the lead after travelling 200 metres and she travelled sweetly to the home turn where Newitt allowed her to slip into top gear, but the filly was unable to shake off her rivals that began their charge to the line.
But the daughter of Needs Further refused to wilt and she did enough to stave off all challenges to score by a half-length from the John Blacker-trained, Appraise ($21.00) with Perfect Award ($12.00) a long neck away third.
“Deroche was brave when she had to be and provided, she pulls up well from the run she will back up in the Vamos Stakes ($150,000 Group 3) on Wednesday.
“We came here today with the view of seeing how she handled the 1400 metres and we are excited about the outcome.
“She is so much more relaxed at the races these days and I’m sure she will be even better if she doesn’t lead and can be settled back in the field.
“I’m very fortunate to be given the opportunity to train two such talented horses.”
Watch Le Cadeau win the Tasmanian 2YO Magic Millions Classic in Launceston on Sunday.