Arnold-Jolly combine to win Benchmark 70 at The Valley
A CLASSY ride from Steven Arnold has netted Federosa the Benchmark 70 at Moonee Valley, on Australia Stakes night.
Jumping from barrier six can be tricky, but Arnold steered Federosa expertly to the box seat and timed the run to perfection, despite a bit of cheek from the horse around the bend.
Tres ($3.80) finished fast but Federosa fought right to the line in a promising display by the South Australian-trained horse. Millie the Missile ($12) had plenty of money for it late and justified that with a promising third.
Trained at Morphettvile by Richard Jolly, Federosa was having just her fifth start and despite winning on New Year’s Eve, this was easily her best showing.
“He’s a good judge Richard – he wouldn’t have brought her over for nothing and he’s pretty happy with her and pretty confident going in,” Arnold said.
“She’s pretty new still and quite raw and inexperienced so it’s a good effort to come to the Valley and win a race.
“I Had a lovely run and she wanted to pull up a little bit so I had to sort of be firm on her and she kept fighting to the line.”
The winning stable’s foreman Darren Egan said Arnold’s ride and a little bit of ability were the main factors in the victory.
“He rode her perfectly really,” Egan said.
“Patience, Steven is the best at it. He just bided his time and worked his way outside the leader and toughed it out really well.
“I knew that she would tough it out really well… when there is a fight on she is up for it.”
In the benchmark 90 Inglis 55, Weather The Storm proved too strong. Trained by Robert Kingston, Weather The Storm held off favourite Petite’s Rewards for jockey Dwayne Dunn. Two late scratching had reduced the field to just five runners and it was the two favourites who fought it out. It was the fifth race on the card.