In-form galloper Nishino Crescent made it two wins from his past three starts when he proved too strong at Flemington on Saturday. The gelded son of Satono Aladdin was rock solid when fourth behind a smart one at this track and trip the start prior, relishing his return to Headquarters to notch his first win at Australia’s premier racetrack. Jockey Mitch Aitken is building an excellent record aboard the ex-Japanese galloper, Saturday’s win making it three wins from five starts when the pair have combined.
The race itself panned out nicely for Aitken, who was able to find cover in the second half of the field before stoking his gelding up on the bend. The six-year-old blended into the race at the right time, turning widest but with plenty to offer in the run home. Aitken went full bore passing the 300-metre mark and quickly moved up to take the lead from race-favourite Dream All Day, who could do no more than watch Nishino Crescent glide on by. The race was over from that point, Aitken increasing his lead before easing down in the last fifty metres, in what turned out to be a soft win.
“The horses I was following were always going to take me into the race”, Aitken said post-race.
“I took off on the corner, and if I wasn’t on a horse like him I’d have waited another two-hundred metres. But as Henry said prior to the race, you have to ride him like a two-thousand metre horse.
“He was too strong in the end”.
Henry was pleased to record a metropolitan win with his enigmatic galloper.
“Terrific to get a win at Headquarters with this horse”, he said.
“There’s nothing like a Saturday city winner at Flemington. It’s not easy as an owner or trainer to get them”.
“He did a great job this horse, Mitch rode him beautifully”.
Henry noted his galloper pulled up particularly well after the race, suggesting a tilt at 2000-metres or even beyond may be on the cards for future starts.
When that next race will be is unclear at this stage, with a short break on the cards as the Autumn Carnival approaches.
Nishino Crescent now has five wins from sixteen Australian starts, bumping his career prizemoney beyond the quarter-of-a-million dollar mark.