The victory of Mileva in the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100 metres) was the highlight of the Caulfield race meeting which again underlined how astute trainer Philip Stokes is with the placement of his horses.
Stokes targeted the first-up specialist for the event and under-rated jockey Daniel Moor did the rest placing the mare behind the fast speed.
When the leaders wilted Moor took Mileva to the front and she managed to defeat another mare Bless Her in a photo.
There were several disappointments in that race headed by Oxley Road who didn’t handle the soft track according to jockey Luke Nolen.
The ultra-consistent Ashford Street delivered a rare bad run and his trainer Ken Elford could not find an excuse.
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HORSES TO FOLLOW
SARTORIAL SPLENDOUR
In a race where the on-pacers capitulated Sartorial Splendour held on strongly to run third beaten only a half a length in one of the best runs of his career. He showed his toughness backing up a week after his Flemington placing behind Sirius Suspect.
MRS CHRISSIE
Game effort from this three-year-old filly having only her second start. She worked hard to lead and then was headed early in the straight, but she kept on kicking to only go down by a half neck.
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HE’S OUR BONNEVAL
He ran on strongly to finish third behind Edison but there’s little doubt he’s looking for longer than 1400 metres. Pre-race his co-trainer Trent Busuttin said they couldn’t find a suitable race over 1600 metres so they elected to stay at 1400 metres. Next start over a longer journey he will be hard to beat.
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UNLUCKY SIGH
That’s about all the punters who backed her could do as if she got a run with 300 metres to go she would have won the three-year-old filly’s event. Stewards reported she was held up for the last 300 metres of the event.
