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 Flying Spur filly Roulettes took advantage of her race experience to win the Sportingbet St Albans Stakes at Moonee Valley this afternoon.
Starting favourite in the small field at $3.30, Roulettes jumped well into second place behind the Peter Moody trained Paranoid, where she remained until making a strong challenge in the straight. Moody's other runner, the Fastnet Rock filly Flokkati ($3.50), ran home strongly for second but was well beaten by 1¾ lengths. Ebony Rock ($6.00), another of Fastnet Rock's progeny made it two stakes places for the sire by running third. Wayne Hawkes, Melbourne foreman for his father John, had a few concerns during the race. "Peter Moody's horse dropped off on the home turn which worried me a little bit, but the other horse loomed up on her outside which made her put her head down and go again", he said.  "She's a really professional filly", said winning rider Steven King.
"She's got good gate speed and the good thing about her is that she has got a turn of foot." "When you ask her to quicken she really accelerates underneath you." Hawkes was so impressed with the win that he feels its worth keeping Roulettes going rather than sending her for a spell.
"We were only going to go to today", he said. "I haven't spoken to Dad yet but I'd say we might even give her a break and then the Blue Diamond Prelude or something like that." In any case, Hawkes was happy that Roulettes has satisfied long term clients. "These guys have been with us for 25 years as owners." "She's now won a stakes race." "She's not very big this filly but she is very well bred being by Flying Spur so she's probably trebled her value in the last 10 minutes." Roulettes is the 71st stakes winner by Flying Spur. She is a half sister to the Gai Waterhouse trained sprinter Royal Discretion, winner of two Group 3 races last season. Stakes placed Tactfully, is a full sister to Roulettes, being out of the Canny Lad mare Discretion. Photos: Quentin Lang
© 2010 Published 13/12/09
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