Grey mare FINE MIST topped off a topsy turvy week for Lang Brothers Racing when winding back the clock to win at Morphetville yesterday afternoon.
Despite missing the start by nearly two lengths, FINE MIST ($21) , saved valuable ground along the fence courtesy of a masterful Jason Holder ride, eventually wearing down ITZ INVINCIBLE in the shadows of the post to record her first victory in well over a year.
Her loyal owners reaped the rewards , many snapping up the juicy odds on offer for a mare who , at her best, looked very hard to beat on paper.
For Lang Brothers Racing it also capped off a week which saw the stable have four runners all across Australia.
The week started at Grafton when DREAM MASTER got in more trouble than Prince Harry when a luckless fourth in a 1400m Maiden on Monday. Jockey Jeff Lloyd couldn’t find any clear galloping room all the way up the straight and the Toby Edmonds trained son of DREAM AHEAD was beaten as the well backed favourite. The horse has pulled up well and should break his maiden at his next start in a couple of weeks.
Tuesday saw the racetrack debut of EXPERIENCED, as well as the navy and green silks of LBR, running on well when finishing 7th of ten runners at Bathurst over 1400m. Still has a lot to learn, but jockey Mathew Cahill reported there was enough to work with and when the penny drops between his ears he will make a nice stayer. He will head to his home track Hawkesbury on May 18th for an 1800m Maiden for his next start. We will only see the best of him when he gets up over the longer distances and continues to mature.
CYMBALISM had her second start at Canterbury on Wednesday, and despite appearing to have a good run in transit, could only manage a 4th placing behind her stable mate NOIRE. Jockey Corey Brown reported the filly is still a bit green and needs much further than the 1100m to show her best. Trainer Chris Waller may look to give her one more run over longer, before tipping her out for a spell. Does look like she is still six months away from fully maturing , although she does appear to have some ability.
Friday saw the return of classy mare GIRL SUNDAY who tuned up for next Saturdays Silk Stocking at the Gold Coast when running a pleasing fourth at the Randwick trials behind MORTON’S FORK. Regular jockey James Innes Jnr appeared to have a lot of horse underneath him when he simply allowed her to coast to the line under a good hold. The 1200m of the Stocking looks ideal for her fresh and she will venture up the highway early this week.
Across town at Warwick Farm, two year old YOUR SONG colt VERSETTO had his first jump out , eventually finishing fourth of the six runners. This was essentially his first day at school and he will derive great educational benefit from the experience. Trainer Bjorn Baker will continue to take him along slowly and look to trial him at Rosehill on May 8.
But the week certainly belongs to the evergreen mare FINE MIST. Her seventh career victory takes her stake earnings above $300,000 and she is certainly the matriarch of the Lang Brothers Racing stable. The original plan was to send her to the Gold Coast National Broodmare sales in June, however it looks like she will have her swan song in two weeks time, given yesterdays victory saw her qualify for the SA Sprint Championship final. The 1000m looks her pet distance and on yesterdays performance she deserves a chance at the title.
Racing is all about patience. There are highs and there are lows. That’s why days like yesterday are so special and why the Lang Brothers are involved in the sport.
