When local trainer Jo-Anne Dalton put a saddle on Sestina for Sunday’s Gladvale Farms Winton Cup (1400m) at Ascot Park, she expected the $35,000 race to be little more than a pipe-opener ahead of the Cromwell Cup (2030m) next weekend – but the Lonhro mare had other ideas.
Sestina swept to victory in Sunday’s open handicap, recording her second 1400m success from only three starts so far in her six-year-old season.
“It’s a big surprise, to be fair,” Dalton said. “Even Tina (Comignaghi, jockey) thought she’d be flat-footed today over 1400m. We normally need a wet track for this mare to be competitive over these shorter trips. But the little tart has pulled one out of the box today!
“She’s been a handful around the stables all week and really needed to have a run here today ahead of Cromwell next week.
“She should be a stayer, but this is her second win over 1400m this time in. We’ll take it!”
Comignaghi settled Sestina in fourth place as Balzano and Sir Sterling duelled for the lead and dragged the field around the Ascot Park circuit at a strong pace.
Those efforts began to take their toll on that pair as they straightened for home, and Comignaghi had Sestina poised to pounce. She presented her mount on the outside of the leaders at the turn and drove her over the top of them down the straight, going on to win by half a length over Tomasina and Ex Aye.
Bred by Cambridge Stud’s Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay, Sestina has now had 31 starts for five wins, 11 placings and $155,555 in stakes. Cambridge Stud will offer a half-brother by Sword of State to Sestina at Karaka Book 1 2026 as Lot 57.
“I thought during the race that she seemed to be travelling well and was in a good spot,” Dalton said. “When she pulled out, I thought, ‘Here we go!’
“She has a few quirks – things have to be done her way and in her own time, when she feels like it. She’s a bit bossy. But she’s got ability.
“We’ll head to the Cromwell Cup next Sunday. We’ll go up to 2000m, which we thought would suit her a lot better than today’s race!”
The Winton Cup completed a winning double on Sunday’s Ascot Park card for Dalton, who earlier in the afternoon saddled Venetian for a five-length runaway in the Advance Agriculture & Sinclair Transport Maiden (1400m). That lightly raced four-year-old mare is owned by the Harper and Kilkelly families, who also race Sestina as well as Sunday’s Travellers Rest Tavern & Mud & Daggs Rating 65 (1600m) runner-up Ominous. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.
