Trainer Mark de Montfort.
HORSE RACING
Betting ring wobbler Vision defied a serious case of the blows to scramble home for a debut win at Kembla Grange on Saturday.
Wound out from an opening quote of $4.80 to start a $14 chance on track in the three-year-old Maiden Plate (1000m), Vision stuck her head out at the right time to beat the fast-finishing Yankee Hoedown ($3.90f). The filly was slightly shorter on the tote at $11.40.
Trainer Mark de Montfort reaped the rewards of sticking with apprentice Rachael Murray as Vision ploughed through the bog-like conditions with a feather weight on her back.
"The difference [on Saturday] was Rachael Murray riding and claiming three and she only carried 51 kilos which helped us through the day," de Montfort said.
"She trialled very good two weeks ago, but not on a wet track so it was a bit of gamble running on a wet track.
"When she won [the trial] the horse she beat [Xandretta] came out and won a Canterbury maiden last week. I was quietly confident although the heavy track was the bother, but as I say Rachael Murray has been riding in good form."
Indentured to Grahame Begg, Murray has flourished on the provincial scene since trading in the bush for the city slog.
She made it a race-to-race double after navigating a course down the outside rail to score a runaway win on I'm Capable in the Benchmark 60 Handicap (1000m).
"I was worried initially [about moving to Sydney], but now that I'm here it's not that bad," Murray said.
"I've got to give a lot of credit to my manager Wayne Harris as he's the one that does a lot of work [in securing rides]. He is unreal."
Murray heeded de Montfort's advice after partnering Vision in a mid-week gallop to get familiar with the horse.
"Mark does a really good job with his horses so whatever he says I take it as gospel," Murray said. "He just told me that she's got good gate speed and I was able to let her run.
And, after so much rain, the Murray suggested the track was: "Pretty bottomless - especially on the inside - but on the outside I found it not too bad."
