Adnocon’s rise through racing’s grades continued at Ipswich today when he cruised to victory in a record breaking Eye Liner Stakes (1350m).
Ridden just off the speed for much of the race, Adnocon switched off the heels of the leaders approaching the turn before striking the lead in the straight.
He then cruised home under Paul Hammersley to win impressively and score a maiden stakes success – running a new track record.
A winner of his previous two races at Canterbury and then the Sunshine Coast, Adnocon will most likely have his next run in the Glasshouse at the Sunshine Coast.
“He just keeps taking the next step,” winning trainer Gerald Ryan said. “We hammered him a bit last preparation and he handled it well.”
“We spelled him after running in the Magic Millions (Stayers Cup, third to Hidden Wonder) and he’s come back brilliantly.”
“To be honest at that time I didn’t think he’d be up to winning a race like this, but he’s come on well with maturity.”
Ryan said he was quietly confident during the race when his charge was well placed by Hammersley.
“When he jumped so well and he was right there I thought he would be hard to beat.”
“He’s a horse who needs a bit of room – he likes to see a bit of daylight.”
“He can be tricky to ride and this was Paul’s first time on his back. He rode him terrific.”
“He’ll go to the Glasshouse now and then we’ll probably pull up stumps. The way he’s improving he might win a nice race during the spring for us.”
In the run to the line Adnocon ($7) cruised home a length and a quarter clear of a wall of horses headed by Barinka ($7.50).
Another nose back in third place was Maxisun ($7), just ahead of Blazing Hearts ($7). The favourite Drenalin ($5.50 fav) was next home in fifth place.
Adnocon is one of five winners, from five to race, for the lightly raced and city placed Danehill mare Gwenn.
Gwenn is a half sister to the unraced mare Sister of Soul, the dam of seven time international stakes winner Indigo Girl (13 wins in all and over $486,000 in prizemoney).
His sire Clang, a former top class sprinter, has done a great job as a sire with stars including Clangalang, Calaway Gal and back to back Stradbroke hero Black Piranha.
PICS – Dan Costello.
