Matt Laurie, a Mornington trainer, has lost all sense of how to lose at Sydney racetracks. Laurie scored another victory with Miss Icelandic in the Jeff Pendlebury Handicap (1000m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday, after her devastation of the Sydney fall carnival with three Group 1 victories from as many runners. Chad Schofield, the jockey for Miss Icelandic, expressed it best when he said, “Matt goes good in Sydney.” Laurie wasn’t on pace to win Miss Icelandic, but Schofield claimed he was more optimistic about the mare’s chances after discussing strategy with the trainer on Saturday morning. “The mare was going really well,” Schofield said when he spoke with Matt. “The race looked to map well for us on paper and it worked out exactly as we though with with the favourite (zealously) three-wide and Miss Icelandic settling on the outside of the leader, Passeggiata.
“I thought we had the race pretty well sewn up at the 300m, and I was glad Zealously was three-wide.” However, the leader deserves praise since she kicked well, and even though my horse had to work hard, she always felt like the victor. Zealously ($2.20 favorite), who faded late for third place, lost by two lengths, lost to Miss Icelandic ($10), who defeated Passeggiata ($3.10) by a half-neck. With his wonder filly winning a Group 1 double in the Vinery Stud Stakes and ATC Australian Oaks this autumn, Laurie has had an incredible run of success in Sydney. Vinrock, the trainer’s top two-year-old, won the Group 1 Champagne Stakes to cap off an undefeated first season. Additionally, Miss Icelandic retained Laurie’s perfect Sydney autumn race record intact with the trainer preparing four winners from as many starters.
The listed $200,000 Ortensia Stakes (1100m) at Scone on May 17 is the race Laurie is thinking of setting Miss Icelandic for. After his strong victory in the Tom Bingle Handicap (1800m), Scone is also expected to start for Les Vampires next. Les Vampires ($6) overtook Zaphod ($7) by a neck thanks to a shrewd ride from Adam Hyeronimus, while Miracle Spin ($10) finished third, a quarter of a length distant. The favorites Saganti ($3.60) and Flying Bandit ($3.20) appeared to have a chance before placing fourth and fifth, respectively. While the much favored Saganti focused on speed but faltered under pressure, Flying Bandit continued to run without posing much of a danger to the placegetters.
Les Vampires has a chance to compete in the Listed $200,000 Scone Cup (1600m) next month, according to Neil Paine, stable agent for Tulloch Lodge, as trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott are abroad. The 1800m was the worry; it was unclear if he would make the journey, but Adam Hyeronimu gave him a great ride, and the ride won the race, according to Paine. He’s a good money-spinner and a charming little horse who enters every race. Gai and Adrian may even consider trying the horse beyond 2000 meters at this point, in my opinion. Three years ago, Les Vampires, the four-year-old son of champion Pierro, was bought for $200,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale and has since shown to be a wise investment. It was his fourth victory from 12 starts, taking his career earnings to nearly $340,000. at Randwick.