Quentin J. Lang Photographer
P.O.Box 200, Ringwood East VIC 3135.

Mobile: 0421 634 883
e-mail:qjlang@netspace.net.au

INDEX

Index

Race 1 The Heaven Icecream

Race 2 Antler Luggage Handicap

Race 3 Drumstick Royale Plate

Race 4 Let's Elope Stakes (Listed)

Race 5 Ascot Vale Stakes (Group 2)

Race 6 Nivea Visage Craiglee Stakes (Group 2)

Race 7 Teac Digital Stakes (Listed)

Race 8 Bobbie Lewis Quality (Group 3)

Race 9 Spring Is The Season

PENTASTIC WINS BRILLIANTLY

It was an overcast day at Flemington with threatening clouds hanging over a track rated dead but later upgraded to good. The Group 2 Nivea Visage Craiglee Stakes is often a good guide to the major spring cups and the winner is set to continue that pattern. The David Hall trained Pentastic was very impressive in winning at the 'mile' a distance expected to be a shade too short. He burst from the pack late after somehow finding a gap in the wall of horses that had spread across the track inside the final 100m.

We saw an impressive line-up of three-year-olds step out in the Group 2 Ascot Vale Stakes with the undefeated colt Lago Delight a warm favourite. He was far from disgraced in going down to Scaredee Cat by a small margin. These two colts cleared away from the rest of the field and look to be future stars in the making.

Earlier the mares contested the Listed Let's Elope Stakes and caused more than a few headaches for officials. First we saw Patrick Payne thrown from Best Picture and have to be cleared by the doctor before he could ride, then there was trouble at the gates which resulted in Lady Macedon and Tarcoola Diamond being withdrawn. After they finally jumped the Canberra based Ain't Seen Nothin' proved too good for her opposition to give trainer Barbara Joseph her first Flemington winner.

The Group 3 Bobbie Lewis Quality named in honour of the great jockey was another thrilling 'straight six' contest with the field splitting into two groups. The outside group prevailed but only just as Titanic Jack took the race from Bomber Bill whom clearly won the battle on the flat side. Close-up in third place was the consistent mare The Big Chill.