Dan Morton may have been absent from Belmont on Saturday, he was competing in the Avon Descent, but he still exerted a major influence to commence the new season with a bang.
Landing the first leg of a training double for Morton was Woolibar who stalked pacesetter, Blacksmith, before grabbing the lead over the final stages of the FPA Sprint (1000m).
Jockey, Shaun O’Donnell, who maintains an uncanny ability to breakthrough on pick up mounts, took full advantage of conditions that suited on pace runners.
It was back-to-back wins for Woolibar who improved his record to five wins and as many placings from 14 starts, boosting stake earnings to $93, 150.
Red Ora was icing on the cake when he made a barnstorming run from the tail of the field to take out the Tabtouch Handicap (1400m) in top fashion.
The five-year-old looked headed for another luckless defeat when he turned for home in last position but he produced a withering finish.
Giving apprentice Jerry Noske her second win of the meeting, Red Ora defeated Need A Lift by a half-length with Resonates sticking on for third.
Red Ora returned to the winner’s enclosure for the first occasion since taking out the Magic Millions 3YO Trophy (1200m) in February, his fifth consecutive victory in a flawless maiden campaign.
He suffered his first defeat with a first up fifth to Sujet in June before running brave seconds to Django and Pernella Miss when carrying big weights.
Darren McAuliffe’s decision to extend Fo’Shizzle’s campaign reaped dividends when she bounced back to lead throughout and win the Vale Don Randall Handicap (1400m).
Finding the front soon after the start for, Chloe Azzopardi, the daughter of Universal Ruler maintained that position to defeat Black Aria by 1 3/4 lengths.
Fo’Shizzle showcased her promise when a sound second to Cosmic Storm in the Listed Belmont Oaks (2000m), but McAuliffe was considering his options after she finished ahead of one runner in the Listed Belmont Classic (2200m).
Paul Jordan had Senso primed for his return when he led throughout to upset the winning run of Chantski in the Westspeed 3YO Plate (1200m).
The Street Sense gelding was resuming off two trials after displaying positive signs in feature juvenile races earlier in the year.
He ran second to Lucky Street in the Listed Perth Stakes, (1100m), fourth in the Karrakatta Plate (1200m) and filled the same placing behind Showy Chloe in the Sire Produce Stakes (1400m).
Senso, ridden by Ryan Hill, found a soft lead and had too much in hand to defeat, Chantski, who was aiming for a winning hat trick, by 2 3/4 lengths.
Jordan said Senso could develop into a Guineas contender at the Ascot carnival.
Julio Santarelli