Meteora Miss Soars To Maiden Win

Meteora Miss Soars To Maiden Win

Dec 02, 2015

From Thoroughbred News

The Anthony Cumming trained Meteora Miss returned from a spell after an unsuccessful campaign over the spring to immediately gain her maiden win when taking the $40,000 More Than Ready @ Vinery Plate (1200m) at Canterbury on Wednesday and to vindicate the regard the stable holds for her.

The win was ably assisted by jockey Brenton Avdulla who was able to shelter Meteora Miss at the rear of the field of three-year-old fillies from a strong wind that was battering Sydney from the south.

Avdulla waited while the leaders, Navua Miss with Blake Shinn and Katahana and Tye Angland, felt the pressure of the wind in the main straight. Ocean Spray and James McDonald and Involving and apprentice Winona Costin took over but the race changed once Avdulla had Meteora Miss out in the middle of the track.

The filly wandered somewhat out in the open expanses of the middle, but Avdulla steered her at the line and she lengthened well to reel in the two inside and go to a short neck margin win.

Ocean Spray (Fastnet Rock) and McDonald were second holding out the $2.80 favourite Involved, who was the only filly with a weight allowance at 54.5kg, and Costin for third, the margin a nose.

The time was 1.10.73 on the Good 3 track with the final 600m in 35.54. Meteora Miss paid $5.50 on the tote and $5.00 on fixed odds.

“She has always been a filly of some ability. I think a lot of it came down to how the wind played, it is tough out there for the horses to cover the ground with that sort of swirling wind and getting cover was key to relax and to save and conserve energy for one sprint in the straight,” said Edward Cummings, racing manager for Anthony.

“Brenton did a great job, he has been on her in two trials now and he knows the horse well. So we can now keep moving forward,” he said.

Meteora Miss contested the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes over 1400m back in September and she was well beaten, but the spell and confidence from the trials allowed her to show out well on Wednesday.

By Northern Meteor out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Dual Diamond the filly is well bred and her connections will be looking to contest black type again in the future.

Meteora Miss earned $23,025 plus a BOBS bonus of $10,000 for the win for owners Luskin Park Stud Racing (Mgr: P Whelan), M McGuinness, Bangaloe Stud (Mgr: Miss J Ritchie), Go U Sevens (Mgr: M Turner), Mrs S Staff, Laurel Oak Bloodstock Pty Ltd (Mgr: L Mihalyka), Grant Bloodstock Pty Ltd (Mgr: S Grant), M Codling, J Murphy, S Gregory, P Carter, M Graham, C Heraghty and S Bourke.