Le Juge strikes again taking out the 1835m Open Handicap for Chris Waller and the team at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Master Zephyr also performed well first up for Tony Haydon making it a fast-finishing quinella for OTI.
View the race replay below:
Blake Shinn was quick to praise rival jockey Robbie Fradd after Le Juge continued his outstanding Queensland form at Eagle Farm. Le Juge made it six wins and two minor placings since coming to Queensland when he beat Master Zephyr by a length in the Hoppy’s Handwash Cafe Open Handicap over 1800m.
A former French galloper, Le Judge struggled in Melbourne and Sydney when imported to Australia two years ago. Trainer Chris Waller sent him north to his Gold Coast stable late last year and the gelding has taken to beach life.
Above: Le Juge posing for a photo in the winner’s circle. (Photo credit: Trackside Photography)
A key to his renewed form has been Fradd who has ridden Le Juge seven times for five wins and two seconds. However, Fradd was suspended on Saturday and Shinn was booked for the ride.
“Le Juge really is racing well and a lot of the credit has to go to Robbie (Fradd). He has got the horse to settle and he finished very well.”
Shinn is basing himself in Queensland for the winter and hopes to get more rides from Waller. Waller’s Queensland manager Paul Shailer said Le Juge continued to improve and might have earned himself a chance at a stakes race in the winter.
Above: Tom Melbourne running second in the G3 Hawkesbury Cup to Archedemus.
Tom Melbourne also ran a strong race over the weekend at Hawkesbury, when placing second to Archedemus in the Group 3 1600m Gold Cup.
Archedemus “got an easy run in front with no weight” and according to jockey Corey Brown he “just let him run”. Getting the best of Tom Melbourne in the straight, Archedemus powered home. Jockey Glyn Schofield had nothing but praise for Tom and felt that the 6kg weight differential was telling in the final stages of the race, but he believed the horse had performed well.
“He loomed, but the winner just found more with no weight after getting an easy time in front. It was a good performance.”
View the race replay below:
Tom Melbourne’s second was his 15th minor placing from 42 starts which have also netted six wins.
A big congratulations to all of their connections, we hope to see them back in the winner’s circle in the coming weeks!