Lindsay Park has claimed a black type win at Morphettville this afternoon as Faatinah sustained a strong enough sprint to beat a fast-finishing Sooboog to the line in the Group 2 Euclase Stakes (1200m).
Faatinah was excellent in the 2016 Euclase Stakes at Morphettville on Saturday. Photo by: Jenny Barnes
Faatinah was rated only a slight chance of success in the Euclase Stakes at double-figure odds, but did his chances no harm when jumping well from the barriers and taking an ideal position in transit on the heels of early leader American Star.
Receiving a good run in transit, jockey Matthew Neilson elected to keep his position on the rails rounding onto the final straight; a decision which paid dividends when the horse strode to the front with only 300m to run; tiring late but having already done enough to claim his maiden win at black type level.
Faatinah returned to the paddock after finishing a luckless sixth in the McMahon’s Dairy BM70 (1200m) on Moonee Valley in November, and required ample time away from racing after being found to be harbouring a minor throat ailment.
Having returned to racing for success in the Ubet BM70 (1200m) at Morphettville on April 16th, Faatinah’s win in the Euclase Stakes has seen his record improve to three wins and two minors through only seven competitive appearances.
Sooboog has been transferred to the care of Darren Weir for his current preparation and while receiving some interest in betting markets in the hours leading up to jump, stood in the barriers and immediately appeared out of contention.
Having won a pair of minor races in early spring before failing to make anything of an impact at black type level, the Snitzel colt took a couple of start to return to competitive form this time, but placed a close second to Super Cash in the Listed Goodwood Trophy (1100m) on March 12th.
Caught towards the tail of the Euclase Stakes field rounding onto the final straight, jockey Brad Rawiller threaded the needed with the three-year-old and was greeted with a huge late turn of foot; finishing only a head off the pace of Faatinah.
2016 Euclase Stakes Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | FAATINAH | David Hayes & Tom Dabernig | Matthew Neilson | – | 9 | 57.5kg | $15 |
| 2 | 1 | SOOBOOG | Darren Weir | Brad Rawiller | 0.4L | 1 | 57.5kg | $10 |
| 3 | 4 | DEMONSTRATE | John O’Shea | Craig Williams | 1.2L | 13 | 57.5kg | $9.50 |
| 4 | 9 | SECRET AGENDA | Mick Price | Craig Newitt | 1.4L | 7 | 55.5kg | $6.50 |
| 5 | 3 | COUNTER PULSE | Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas | Clare Lindop | 1.4L | 6 | 57.5kg | $91 |
| 6 | 13 | SUPER CASH | Andrew Noblet | Kerrin McEvoy | 1.6L | 10 | 55.5kg | $7.50 |
| 7 | 11 | MISS GUNPOWDER | Phillip Stokes | Dom Tourneur | 2.4L | 2 | 55.5kg | $4.60F |
| 8 | 14 | JALAN JALAN | Colin Little | Ms Michelle Payne | 3.3L | 11 | 55.5kg | $4.80 |
| 9 | 2 | BROCKHOFF | Ciaron Maher | Luke Nolen | 3.6L | 4 | 57.5kg | $26 |
| 10 | 7 | AMERICAN STAR | Mark Minervini | Shayne Cahill | 4.8L | 8 | 57.5kg | $71 |
| 11 | 5 | MR INDIVIDUAL | Leon & Troy Corstens | Mark Zahra | 4.9L | 3 | 57.5kg | $12 |
| 12 | 12 | ALMIGHTY GIRL | Mitchell Beer & Max Hinton | Glen Boss | 7.8L | 12 | 55.5kg | $8 |
| 13 | 8 | BEAU RIVAGE | Gordon Richards | Jake Toeroek | 8L | 5 | 57.5kg | $81 |
