Ex-Godolphin mare claims Group Three Crown
Pecans has returned to haunt the stable that spurned her by claiming the Godolphin Crown at Hawkesbury.
Snapped up by $50,000 by trainer Joe Pride in Melbourne last year, the mare made a successful comeback to racing by claiming the 1300m race sponsored by her former owners.
Pecans ($17) enhanced her excellent first-up record to two wins and two placings from five starts by edging Ghisoni ($10) by a neck. Invincibella, the $4.40 joint favourite with Sedanzer, was a half-length third.
“I just wanted to see a good run from her today, for her to come back and do that is a pretty fair effort,” Pride said.
He had intended to send Pecans to Scone for the Group Three Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) on May 12 but Brisbane is likely to host her next assignment.
“I’m not sure I’ll take her to Scone, especially on the back of a really nice win like that. It might be a bit of a rush to get her there,” Pride said.
Josh Parr rode Pecans for the first time though there was already a connection with the mare’s sire Skilled, the jockey’s first Group One winner in the 2010 Champagne Stakes.