Twain’s Angel has confirmed her status as a contender in winter sprint features with a commanding victory in the Scenic Blast Stakes at Ascot on Monday morning.
Ridden by Madi Derrick, the five-year-old Toronado mare settled behind leader Ginnivan, who set a brisk pace. Derrick allowed Ginnivan to open a three-length lead turning for home, but Twain’s Angel closed the gap effortlessly under her own steam. She drew within a length with 150 metres to go and swept past to win by more than a length.
Benji’s finished second, with Ginnivan third. Last season’s WA Guineas winner King Of Light was fourth in a quiet run.
Co-trainer Sean Casey had initially planned for the bay to contest an Ascot feature last month but was forced to change plans due to an interruption.
“She trialled really well and Madi never moved on her,” Casey said. “She’s going to have another one or two trials. We had an interruption that we couldn’t aim at The Joey, which she was in training for, but things went pear-shaped. But she’s been in work and the Beaufine will be her kick-off.”
The Beaufine Stakes (1000m) is the first of a string of Listed $125,000 sprint events at Belmont over winter, followed by the H G Bolton Sprint (1200m) and Belmont Newmarket (1200m) at two-week intervals.
Twain’s Angel has not raced at Belmont in more than two years but boasts an exceptional record at the circuit, with four wins from as many starts.
In other trial action, Naughty Lord impressed when sweeping from the one-out, two-back position at the top of the straight to power past Rock The Fox and Kala Rose. The son of Playing God remains a maiden after seven starts but has been placed in Listed three-year-old races at each of his past three outings.
Western Australian jockey Damian Lane added another Japanese Group 1 victory on Sunday, steering Rodeo Drive to a half-head win in the NHK Mile Cup (1600m) in Tokyo.
“The horse’s final stretch was outstanding. I’m confident that it will continue to win Group 1s in the future,” Lane told Weekly Gallop. The 32-year-old is on a short-term licence in Japan from April 18 to June 18 and has now won elite races including the Arima Kinen, Takarazuka Kinen, Teio Sho, and Victoria Mile.
Pride Of Jenni is a confirmed starter and now equal-second favourite at $4.80 for the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on May 23 after her Hollindale victory on Saturday. Melbourne Cup champion Half Yours is the $3 favourite, while runner-up Birdman is also $4.80.
