There’s nothing like it when a plan comes together. That’s what eventuated for owner and Honeycomb Stud Director Adrian Whittingham and Victorian trainer Michael Kent when Deny Knowledge ($6) led all the way to take out the Group 3 Belle Of The Turf Stakes at Gosford on Wednesday.
The Irish import ran them a merry dance to defeat the Chris Waller-prepared Thalassophile ($9) by two and a half lengths, with stablemate to the runner-up She’s The Gift ($20) a further long neck back in third place.
Regular rider Josh Richards followed the five-year-old up the coast for his only ride on the card, and his loyalty was rewarded taking out the $240,000 feature in fine style.
Stable representative Nikki Burke commended the steer of Richards and the decision by connections to head north.
“It was a plot hatched by her owner Adrian, he picked this race out for her,” Burke said.
“She doesn’t slow down this horse, she’s got a really high cruising speed and she keeps it up and she’s hard to stop.
“Joshie really gets along well with her and he’s just clicked. It’s just fantastic for him to get a Group 3 win.”
The Pride Of Dubai mare had spent her first ten outings in Great Britain before coming to our shores and is starting to put it all together locally. Whittingham explained that this may be the blue print moving forward.
“We bought her as a 26,000 Euro yearling,” Whittingham said. “We buy a number of yearlings every year over there with the aim of finishing their two and three-year-old season, and if they’re good enough we bring them out here.
“She was the first one we’ve done it with, so we’re one for one.
“We won’t bring everything out, but her sectionals overseas were incredible.”
Earlier in the card, I Am Invincible filly Anavinci ($18) made it two wins from as many outings in the $160,000 Listed Gosford Guineas after a perfectly rated ride by Chad Schofield.
The Annabel Neasham three-year-old held off a fast-finishing Russian Conquest ($3.40) who came from well back in the field, with race favourite Hell I Am ($2.80F) not disgraced in a close-up third. It was a thrilling finish with only a length and a half covering the first six across the line.
Following that slashing run, Russian Conquest has since been tightened into $6 favourite for the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas to be held on January 14.