Travelling to Alice Springs continues to pay dividends for Victorian apprentice Hannah Le Blanc.
There have been two Pioneer Park meetings this season with the 28-year-old from Glenrowan booting home winning doubles on August 25 and on Sunday.
Le Blanc had back to back wins on Sunday aboard Will Savage’s stablemates Talent Quest – the $2.25 favourite with horse racing bookmakers – over 1000m (0-64) and Becquerel ($2.60 fav) in a 1400m maiden.
Talent Quest, whom Le Blanc partnered a fortnight ago, made it four straight wins when he swooped late to nail Terry Gillett’s front-runner Family Ties ($3.20) right on the line to prevail by a short half head.
The six-year-old son of Your Song was camped second behind Family Ties passing the 600m, but he and Ray Viney’s Tango Stepz ($7.50) – who finished third – couldn’t bridge the gap in the home straight before the race came to life in the shadows of the post.
Becquerel, a four-year-old gelding by The Autumn Sun, got that first win after six starts for Ballarat trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy and eight previous starts of Savage.
Le Blanc settled in sixth place and Becquerel, who had managed two seconds in the Alice, was in fact seventh at the 400m before winding up in the home straight to edge out Viney’s Bodmin Boy ($3.30), by 0.2 lengths with Paul Gardner’s Tortellini ($9.50) third.
For Le Blanc, it was her fifth trip to Central Australia – where she now has six wins – after posting a winner on debut at Darwin’s Fannie Bay the previous Saturday.
Gillett, the champion trainer in the Alice Springs and Provincial premiership last season, also celebrated a winning double for the second straight meeting.
Beau Factor ($3.80) made it back to back wins over 1200m (0-64) and Valley Prince ($8.50) ended a winning drought stretching back to January with victory over 1200m (0-58).
Beau Factor, who toppled Gillett’s in-form Altar Boy two weeks ago, led from start to finish before outclassing stablemate Ornamental Lady ($3.80) and Greg Connor’s Delago Lad ($3.30 fav) by 3.3 lengths.
Valley Prince jumped from the inside gate and held sway throughout before edging out Le Blanc’s fast-finishing mount Vanderland ($5.50) by a nose with Dan Morgan’s Boy Big ($6) well adrift in third place.
After getting collared by Connor’s Flying Start within sight of the winning post in open company over 1100m a fortnight ago, Paul Gardner’s Red Wraith reversed the result in emphatic style when he saluted by 3.8 lengths over 1200m (BM76).
In a performance that mirrored his impressive 1200m win on Darwin Cup Day two starts ago on August 5, Red Wraith ($1.75 fav) jumped to an early lead and was never headed overcoming Flying Start ($2.60) and Gardner’s Nasty Streak ($31).
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