Dainty Tess gave Dan Morton a morale boost after she raced away to take out the Budget Car & Truck Rental Plate (1200m) at Ascot yesterday.
The War Chant filly’s win came less than 24 hours after Morton was forced to abandon Watermans Bay’s Brisbane winter campaign.
The Eternity Range gelding, who suffered a mishap en-route in Melbourne, was being aimed at Queensland’s feature sprints, including the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1350m).
It’s a bitter blow for the stable that had high expectations after the seven-year-old completed an outstanding Ascot summer carnival.
The $1,336,800 prize-winner won the Group 3 A.J.Scahill Stakes (1400m) and placed second to boom sprinter, Buffering, in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).
“Unfortunately on his way to Brisbane he went amiss in Melbourne,” said Len Morton, father of Dan.”
“Dan has had to put a stop on his campaign and he will returning home to the stable for a spell.”
Dainty Tess, given a gun ride from William Pike, who crossed from a wide barrier to land in the one-out, one-back position, posted her second straight win this campaign.
“She still has to come up against the better ones, but she is a little professional who does everything 100 per cent right,” Len Morton said.
Meanwhile Paseo Del Prado defied his rating to end a long losing drought in the Digger’s Cup (1800m).
The Conatus gelding was one of two starters for trainer, Trevor Andrews, with the majority of punters pinning their faith in stable mate, Outlaw Pete, who started second favourite.
But Paseo Del Prado, sent out a $22 outsider, dashed away after leading on the home turn for Brad Parnham and defeated Outlaw Pete by 3 ½ lengths with Bedamijo third.
It gave Paseo Del Prado his first victory in 567 days and compensation after he ran second to Preselection at his previous start in last Sunday week’s Geraldton Cup (2100m).
“He has got a really relaxed attitude and I said to Brad to just smarten him up and let him go forward,” Andrews said.
“Riding aggressively suits him and hopefully there are more wins in store.”