LEADING trainer Paul Perry will head to Victoria next month with unbeaten two-year-old Modoc after he cruised to an effortless win at Scone yesterday to maintain an unbeaten record of two wins from his only two starts.
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Perry will start the son of Haradasun in the $250,000 Inglis Premier (1200m) at Mornington on February 12.
Modoc made his debut with a smart win in a two-year-old maiden over 1200 metres at Newcastle on January 11 and followed that up with an effortless win in the HTBA Protect Our Industry Two Year Old (1100m)at Scone, going to the line under a tight hold from Mitchell Bell to win by six and a half lengths.
“I sent him to Scone to keep him up to the mark for Mornington,” Perry said.
“Once he recovers from the run I will start working him the reverse way of going but he will not have another run.
“He is a lovely big strong, relaxed horse and I think he will be very competitive in the race down there.
“There are no plans beyond that except that he will probably go to the paddock after he comes home.”
Perry paid $80,000 for Modoc at last year’s Inglis Premier Sale in Melbourne.
The stable’s good fortune continued when Miss Venice (Grant Buckley) won the Zizou @ Turangga Farm Maiden (1100m) to considerably boost her value as a brood mare while Royal Flush, also ridden by Buckley, upset the odds on favourite I’m Usain to win the Your Song @ Widden Benchmark 60 (1100m).
Miss Venice is by Danehill Dancer out of the Irish mare, Nanshan which is a full sister to Regard, the dam of Atlantic Jewel.
“Early in her career, before she had raced, we had an offer from New Zealand to buy Miss Venice,” foreman Shannon Perry said.
“That was when Atlantic Jewel was really starting to realise her potential.
“We decided not to sell but to hold on to her and atleast win a maiden with her.
“Who knows what she is worth now.”
Buckley allowed Miss Venice ($17) to settle midfield early and in the straight she eventually won the tussle with the Paul Messara-trained first starter and favourite Star Pupil to win narrowly.
Royal Flush appreciated the big pull in the weights to beat I’m Usain (Andrew Gibbons).
I’m Usain, a three-year-old, was having only his fifth start and was aiming for his fourth successive win but was forced to carry 59kgs against Royal Flush, a five-year-old having her 26th start with 56kgs.
I’m Usain also dwelt at the start which cost him at least a length.
The $35,000 Armidale Cup (1900m) on March 17 is the goal for the Ruth Cooper- trained Mullet Man after his win in the Horsepower Benchmark 60 (2200m).
“He won over that distance at Armidale five runs back and there are not that many staying races in the country so we may as well head to the cup with him,” the Moonbi-based Cooper said.
