It's Derby season in Australia and with Randwick done and dusted and won by outstanding filly Aeliana, we can now look forward to Classics in Perth, South Australia and Queensland.
A field of seven starters lined up in the prequel to the WA Derby, the Listed Melvista Stakes 2200m after the scratching of Size Matters on race morning.
After a stunning win in the JC Roberts 1800m at his previous start, Dan Morton's exciting gelding Sail Session (Sessions) was sent out under regular hoop Lucy Fiore as the hottest of favourites going to a middle distance for the first time at his eighth race start.
The Parnham stable representative Play Fair (Playing God) was viewed by punters as the only real challenger to the favourite, with Superfluous drifting in betting despite the services of William Pike and the addition of blinkers.
Sail Session was fired up going to the gates possibly by a strong wind, and proved a bit of a handful for Fiore. But when the barriers opened it was down to business and he settled perfectly in fifth place just behind Play Fair with Morton's other runner Net Zero (A Lot) in third. Meanwhile Please Mister, who had charged to the lead with Superfluous right at his flank, set a strong tempo.
At the top of the straight Superfluous hit the lead but Playfair and Sail Session were immediately on the scene, and at the 200m the favourite easily won that battle and moved clear.
Rank outsider Maxwhooshtapin (Pride Of Dubai) unleashed an impressive Derby trial to finish three quarters of a length from the winner while Net Zero stayed on very honestly for third, Play Fair fading into fourth.
Sail Session's win gave his breeder/owners Oakland Park a double on the day after their super speedy filly Snitzalatte had earlier taken out the two year old race on the program.
Morton's stable foreman BJ Ryan was well pleased with the result.
“ Really good, patiently ridden exactly how we wanted but he rounded them up and went to the line nicely” he said.
“Neville (Duncan) is adamant that 1800 - 2200 would be his best trip, but he is progressive and he's in the zone right now.”
Lucy Fiore spoke confidently of Sail Session's staying ability.
“ That was really nice I was really confident, I had so much horse under me” she enthused.
“I had to push into the wind a bit and go slightly earlier than I wanted but ( in the conditions ) I didn't want to leave it too late. He settles so nicely I think 2400m will be fine.”
With this win Sail Session takes his career earnings to over $330k and boasts four wins two of them at black type level, from his eight starts.
Sail Session is the fifth stakes winner for his sire, Sessions, son of the late great Lonhro..
He is the best of three winners from Kiwi bred dam Unfurl by Raise The Flag and she certainly has the pedigree to produce a Derby winner.
A five times winner from a mile up to 2400m she had some very good staying talent and was placed in two Listed events, a Port Adelaide Cup and a Warrnambool Cup. Unfurl is a half-sister to Group III winner Inferno, the dam of Group I VRC Turnbull Stakes winner Smokin’ Romans.
Sail Session's female line is one that is well recognised for producing tough stayers of exceptional ability - and it has also given us two of Australia's turf immortals. He shares the same direct ancestress (the Martian mare Stardancer) as four times Cox Plate heroine Winx and Stardancer was also the fifth dam of Galilee, Bart Cummings legendary Melbourne Cup winner, whom he always maintained was the best natural stayer he ever trained.
Sail Session was bred and is owned by the Oakland Park syndicate in partnership with Mrs Morton. His dam Unfurl unfortunately slipped to Playing God, so no foal last year and was then covered by Gingerbred Man.
