Winona Costin and Marc Conners will combine to target Group 2 glory at Caulfield this weekend, but happily completed a smash-and-grab at Kembla Grange first.
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Costin timed her run to perfection on her home track to guide Conners’ Royal Stamp to a three quarters of a length victory in the Mullet Creek Mile Class 1 Handicap (1000m) on Thursday.
The former champion Sydney and Kembla apprentice waited patiently at the rear of the field before unleashing an almighty sprint to run down Clare Cunningham’s El Dorado Mine, with John Thompson trained Fantastic Man in third.
“She didn’t begin very well but I got her travelling quite nicely,” Costin said.
“When they quickened up I tried to keep her on the bridle around the home turn and then she had a really nice turn of foot to the end.”
Costin and Conners will join forces again when she rides Super Too in the $200,000 Harrolds Caulfield Sprint (1000m) on Saturday.
Conners’s show of faith hadn’t gone unnoticed by Costin, who has been luckless and battled several injuries for the bulk of the past 12 months.
“Marc has been super,” she said.
“I go in and ride a lot of work for him and try to do what he says most of the time. He has been really good to me.”
Costin rode Super Too during the Spring Carnival last year where she finished fourth in the Listed Cap D'Antibes Stakes (1100m) at Flemington.
She has ridden the four-year-old in five of her 11 career starts.
“I have always loved this filly,” Costin said.
“I won on her first start and was supposed to ride her last season in the carnival in Melbourne after a had fall so got taken off obviously. It’s good to be back on her. Things played my way this time.”
Super Too is coming off back-to-back successes, including a last start victory in the Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge Heat 1 (955m) at Moonee Valley last month.
“Her last run was super,” Costin said.
“She is a very good horse with a lot of speed. I haven’t spoke to Blake [Shinn] yet so I will about her. Drawing barrier three is a big help as well so it is about getting around that corner and getting home.”
Earlier in the day, Tim Clark led all of the way as he guided Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Red Zephyr to a determined win in the Tasman Sea 3YO Maiden Handicap (1400m).
Clark went straight to the front and was never headed as Red Zephyr edged out Mark Newnham’s Sweet Victory and David Payne trained All Too Soon.
“With that head wind in the straight it was always going to be hard for them to run me down,” Clark said.
