Theresa Bateup has qualified Divine Breath for the Summer Provincial Series final at Hawkesbury on Sunday, but she has work to do to break Kris Lees' stranglehold on the event.
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After winning a Benchmark 72 on the $1 million The Gong day at Kembla Grange and finishing third in the inaugural Four Pillars, Divine Breath jumped at $1.45, but couldn't catch Lees' Juventus on Heavy going.
But she still worked home for second to punch her ticket to the $150,000 series final at Newcastle at December 18.
Juventus, with Jason Collett aboard, sat off leader Lemaire and produced into the long straight, as Tyler Schiller presented three-wide on the turn in fruitless pursuit.
Lemaire, trained by Tara and Phillippe Vigouroux, battled on for third.
Lees has won the last two Summer Series finals with Occupy and Itz Lily and already has two others qualified this year in Darleb and Grand Rumore.
Kembla Grange hopes were also dashed in the Nowra Cup on Sunday, as the Robert and Luke Price-trained veteran First Courrier was overwhelmed by the Barbara Joseph and Paul and Matt Jones runner She's All In ($13) on Sunday.
Jockey Quayde Krogh has only just taken on the role as stable rider, but would not be denied in the $65,000 showcase, after She's All In had struggled at Canberra and Gundagai on Heavy tracks recently.
"It's been huge, two weeks ago I couldn't ride a winner and now I'm just flying," he said. "Thanks to Barb and Matt and Paul for giving me a chance in a race like this, the Nowra Cup and obviously it paid off.
"She likes it out in front, we were worried about the Heavy track obviously, off that run in Canberra, but, her work's been solid all week and after I galloped her Wednesday I knew she was going to be a chance."
The favourite, Nick Olive's Invincible Dash, flashed late for second, with Prince Of Arragon third in an exciting finish, ahead of First Courrier.
The result takes her out of the Highway grade, as stablemate Lord Desanimaux ran second.
"They're both very consistent and it's great to get a quinella, it's my first quinella here," Robinson said.
"(So Say You) out of these Highways now and obviously the draws have been kind to both my horses and it's nice that they finished the race together.
"(Lord Desanimaux) has won over $200,000 now, it's a pretty good effort for a horse that's only won two races (in 35 career starts)."
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