Jeff Penza made a clean sweep of the three Group III features at Newcastle on Friday when guiding the Magnus gelding Ashman to an all the way triumph in the $160,000 Australian Bloodstock Cameron Hcp (1500m).
The Kim Waugh-trained 6yo gelding refused to yield in a gruelling last 200 metres to defeat the 4yo Real Impact gelding Sky Lab by a half-head with Shamus Award’s last start Group 1 Queensland Oaks heroine Duais a half-neck back in third.
“He is so brave this horse,” Waugh said.
‘We have only had him this preparation, and we’ve learnt a lot about him.
“I said to Jeff that when Brock (Ryan) won on him, he let him roll but kept him comfortable. If you can let him get a couple of twelves (second furlongs), he will be fighting the finish out.”
Penza set a new record by winninig all three features on the same day.
"It's a great thrill," Penza said.
I ride here every provincial meeting, it's very rewarding,
"He is a super horse out of the gates, but he went a bit harder than I wanted him to. I was fighting him a bit down the back straight.
“Full credit to the horse and the stable who had him super fit and rock hard. He could have easily given it away halfway down the straight, but he dug deep and fought on.
Purchased for $27,500 at the 2021 Inglis February (Early) Online sale, Ashman advances his record to nine three one from 26 starts with earnings of $297,785.
He is the best of three winners from four to race out of the Linamix mare Ashamika, a sister to Group II Saint-Cloud Prix de Malleret and Group II Newmarket Pride Stakes winner Ashalanda and Listed winner Ashlan (Dansili).
Ashamika (FR) has a 3yo colt by Al Maher and has not had a live foal since.
Ashman becomes the 23rd stakes-winner for Widden Stud’s ever-consistent sire Magnus who stands at a fee of $15,400 this season.
