Talented apprentice jockey Celine Gaudrey picked up a winning double at Flemington on Saturday that featured plenty of connections with the New Zealand racing and breeding industry.
Gaudrey was at her aggressive best as she lifted talented filly Sans Doute to victory in an 1100m contest for trainer Mark Walker and her Te Akau Racing ownership syndicate and was back in the winners’ enclosure four races later aboard the Ben, Will and JD Hayes-prepared New Zealand-bred So Risque.
The progressive six-year-old son of So You Think had returned to winning form at Caulfield back in November and had then produced two meritorious efforts for third before tackling the VRC Life Member Daniel Connell Trophy (1400m) on Saturday.
Gaudrey had her charge nicely positioned just behind the speed in the early rush for positions before some shuffling saw her planted out three-wide with cover before moving into contention around the home bend.
Gaudrey got to work at the 200m and So Risque responded to her urgings as he swamped He’s Our Bonneval in the final few strides with pacemaker Helix holding out Bel Air for third.
Co-trainer Ben Hayes was delighted with the manner of the victory as So Risque had made his run in the middle of the track which was against the pattern of the day where most winners were closer to the fence.
“Watching the race through the middle stages it looked like he was checked and nearly fell which meant he ended up three-wide,” Hayes said.
“She (Gaudrey) got him into a nice rhythm though and gee he hit the line strong.
“He won down the middle of the track which has not been happening today as they all have been against the rail so there is real merit to the win.”
The Hayes team will now contemplate lifting their sights with the horse after initially being comfortable taking him through the grades.
“We will see how he pulls up but that was a very good win and he beat some good horses,” he said.
“We will see what the options are but we are enjoying taking him through the grades and squeezing that lemon, but if there is a stakes race that suits we will look at it.
“We’re just enjoying the ride at the moment as he is in fantastic order.”
Gaudrey explained what happened approaching the bend and how it played in her favour.
“It was quite a messy race around the corner as he had bounced out well with the winkers on and was travelling nicely on the bridle when the pace just came out of the race,” she said.
“He wanted to get charging but it worked in our favour being wide with cover as he got to have a proper crack at them.”
So Risque is a son of Volksraad mare Risque Business and is the older half-brother to promising mare It’s Business Time who registered five consecutive victories before finishing runner-up in the Gr.3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) in November.
He was a $100,000 yearling purchase by syndicator Rob Slade from Windsor Park’s 2019 Book 1 draft at Karaka and has now won eight of his 25 starts.
