Morton’s Fork swoops on Sandown Guineas
THERE were perhaps two people on track at Sandown on Saturday that gave $2.30 favourite Morton’s Fork a genuine chance when the Sandown Guineas (1600m) field straightened up for the tough run home.
The three-year-old Godolphin colt was unlucky at Caulfield two starts ago when he was blocked for a run at the 200m mark in the Listed Gothic Stakes and then finished a close second in the Group 3 Carbine Stakes at Flemington.
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His luck again appeared to be out at Sandown with an extraordinary effort required at the 600m.
But he did what exciting horses do — he dug deep, breaking 11 seconds for each of three final 200m sections. From the 200m to the finishing post, he was the only horse to break 11 seconds, stopping the clock at 10.99 secs.
The John O’Shea-trained colt is destined for bigger things — the Randwick Guineas and Australian Guineas were two races mentioned after his short-head victory over the previously unbeaten Ruthven ($17) and Jennifer Lynn ($3.40).
Godolphin’s David Charles and jockey Craig Williams were two who thought Morton’s Fork wasn’t done when he appeared to have an impossible task when he had only one runner behind him at the 800m mark and three behind him at the 600m mark.
“He knows how to hit the line, he proved that today,” Charles said. “He is a very exciting horse.”
Charles said Morton’s Fork was the sort of horse that you know is going to find the line. He said the colt’s form in recent races suggested he was always going to be running home hard.
“John has had a really good opinion of him and we were very happy with the way he has trained on since he has been in Melbourne,” Charles said. “He was unlucky at Caulfield and he ran super at Flemington. We were expecting him to run well today and he delivered.”
With Morton’s Fork set for the spelling paddock, Charles said an autumn plan would be formulated for Morton’s Fork, which could be in Melbourne or Sydney.
Williams is another believer. “He was always going to get there,” Williams grinned as he pointed to the TV showing a replay of the race.
The win brought up a double for Williams who scored a narrow victory on the Hayes/Dabernig trained Redkirk Warrior ($2.80) from Stratum Star ($3.60) in the Sandown Stakes.
Payne gives big brother a Pat on back for Eagle’s effort
Daryl Timms
MICHELLE Payne praised her older brother Patrick for achieving a first-up victory with Husson Eagle in the Listed Doveton Stakes Stakes at Sandown.
Patrick had trained the five-year-old for the 1000m race as part of his preparation which is aimed at going back-to-back in the rich Gold Coast Magic Millions sprint in January.
“It was a great win and he is a beautiful little horse,” Payne said. “When he is right, he has got a brilliant turn of foot and Patty had him spot-on today and it was a really good win.
“He is only a little tacker but he has got a massive heart. He gives you absolutely everything he has got and you can’t ask for anything more than that from a horse.”
Michelle said her brother had a good record of achieving targets with his horses.
Managing owner Joe O’Neill said a plan had been hatched five months ago to start him at Sandown and he would have another two runs before racing in the Magic Millions Sprint, which he won last year with Payne in the saddle.
“It’s a $1 million race, and to Patty it was a fantastic training performance,” O’Neill said. “He told us he’d go very good. He was the best horse in the race.”