Former Kiwi Lord Ardmore (NZ) (Reliable Man) continued his good late spring form when landing his second Sydney success from his past three outings, having finished runner-up to stablemate Mightybeel (NZ) (Savabeel) on the other occasion.
The son of Reliable Man, who sports the blue and white silks of Go Racing, led throughout under a good ride from Tom Sherry to win over 1800m at Rosehill.
Initially prepared in New Zealand by now retired trainer Stephen McKee, the four-year-old gelding looks to be a handy addition to the Chris Waller stable.
The gelding had finished fourth in both the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) and is now racing through the grades in Sydney.
For two-kilo claiming apprentice Tom Sherry, it was his first winner for the Waller stable and his claim and positive ride proved crucial on the heavy track.
“He was well-placed and probably had the best form-line coming into the race,” Sherry said.
“He appreciated a little bit of weight off his back under those conditions.
“He had an easy time early and then he got pressured. I think those first couple of easy sectionals helped him get through the last half. He ran through the line strong.”
Lord Ardmore was a $65,000 purchase at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sales from the draft of The Oaks Stud.
Sherry repeated the dose when dictating aboard Expat (NZ) (Makfi) for his boss Mark Newnham.
Expat, who has now won six of ten starts, is bred and raced by Australian Tony McGrath and is out of Galileo mare Utmost Caution, dam of stakes placed Mental Telepathy (NZ) (Shocking) and another three winners.
“With her pattern, you know your fate pretty early and she controlled it in-front. If she was to be beaten today, it was going to be in the last 50m first-up,” Newnham said.
“She did the job well. It was a good effort from both horse and rider.
“She has been a very consistent mare the whole way through, and she has come back a bit stronger. She handles all types of ground and is a nice mare to have.”
The four-year-old mare will likely venture to Queensland in two weeks for the Listed Just Now Stakes (1300m) for fillies and mares at Eagle Farm in a bid to claim black-type, while the Gr.3 Belle Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Gosford in late December is another possible target.
Sydney’s reigning champion apprentice, Tom Sherry was struck down with Covid-19 earlier in the spring and was given a lengthy suspension after Racing NSW stewards found him guilty of breaching pandemic protocols.
“He’s had two winners today and he has had an awful year with injuries and suspension but hopefully he gets a bit of momentum now,” Newnham said.
