Team Godolphin take out the first two races at Newcastle
TEAM Godolphin got the day off to a fantastic start on Newcastle on Tuesday, winning the opening two races.
Their first to salute was talented staying mare Evanesce, which was too tough for her rivals over 2100m, holding on gallantly to score a narrow victory in a three-way photo on the line.
It was her first win at start five, her best result prior to Tuesday being a second at Newcastle over 1400m on May 6.
However, the three-year-old filly relished the step up in ground, defeating leader Grand Teton and backmarker Crimson Halo.
Godolphin stable representative Claire Mackay said the future looks bright for Evanesce.
“It’s a brilliant start to the day,” Mackay said.
“She needed the confidence run, so hopefully the win did that for her today. She is a solid staying type so there is a big future for her.”
Godolphin kept the winning momentum up in the second race, with the first two across the line carrying the stable’s trademark blue silks.
Recording the win was two-year-old gelding Schubert which jumped straight to the front, with jockey Tye Angland happy to settle in second spot behind Neruda.
Entering the home straight the son of Lohnro and Ringstrasse began his run, hitting the lead and racing clear to score an easy 1.14 length win over his stablemate, first starter Nathula.
Evanesce, first Newcastle winner for Darren Beadman since becoming the interim trainer for @godolphin teaming up with @brentonavdulla r1 pic.twitter.com/oS4NcFHV8J
— Newcastle Racecourse (@newcastleraces_) June 27, 2017
Despite taking on the older company, Schubert was a $2.60 chance, having just his third start after finishing second in a 1100m at Rosehill and eighth in the Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes.
Mackay was thrilled with the effort and says the youngster is only going to improve with more racing.
“We were confident enough to take on the older horses, we have a bit of an opinion of him,” she said.
“The horse that went past him [Neruda] towed him into that race and I definitely think that helped – before that he was looking around a bit – but once he got the lead into the race he hit the line strongly and he did it well.
“He is still new to it all, so there is a lot more to come from him once he gets the hang of it and really puts it all together.
“There was a lot left in the tank.”