Having her first start since a spell, Viddora steamed home from sixth on the corner for a soft win in the feature sprint in a performance which looks to springboard the six-year-old mare into more spring riches.
The win was most significant for trainer Lloyd Kennewell and jockey Joe Bowditch, the best mates having decided to move to Caulfield after successful careers in South Australia.
“That’s my biggest moment in racing, it hasn’t sunken in yet,” Kennewell told Racing.com moments after the race. “It was like watching the Winterbottom (Stakes) all over again.”
“I’m so proud of Joe (Bowditch, jockey) as he moved his life over here as well. That will kick him along and also for me as well after being here for about six weeks.”
“She’s been flying on the track. Everything she had done was perfect. She has a great group of owners and I have a great supporter base behind me.”
“It’s been a great ride and hopefully we can go on with it and maybe get that slot in The Everest. She certainly deserves it.”
Kennewell said he had spoken to a slot holder who was set to watch the mare tonight with the view of her representing them in the richest turf race in the world next month.
“She’s been underrated and I don’t think she should be underrated again. She’s a great mare and if she doesn’t get (a slot) we will go to the Manikato (Stakes) and we could always then go overseas in the future.”
Tonight’s win was Viddora’s second at Group One level. She won the Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot last December before she headed to the Gold Coast for a brilliant win in the $1 million Magic Millions Snippets.
A daughter of Yarraman Park Stud’s super sire I Am Invincible, Viddora was purchased by Lloyd Kennewell for $40,000 at the 2014 Adelaide Yearling Sale.
The classy mare was bred by the Hodgson family of Keyneton in South Australia and sold through their Riva Ridge Stud draft at the Morphettville auction. As it stands the mare has now won her large and joyous ownership group over $2.4 million.
Viddora completed a consecutive group race treble for Magic Millions sold runners following the wins of Leonardo da Hinchi and Meryl.
The Caulfield Guineas is next on the cards for untapped Hinchinbrook three-year-old Leonardo da Hinchi after the wonderfully named galloper scored a brilliant win in the Group Two Bill Stutt Stakes (1600m).
Locked up on the inside of runners for most of the race, Leonardo da Hinchi (ex Portrait) was able to get a split inside the final furlong before unleashing a paralysing burst to win.
The exciting Darren Weir trained colt carries the colours of star stablemate Black Heart Bart after being purchased by Bart’s part owner Kim Renner for $100,000 at the Perth Yearling Sale.
Leonardo da Hinchi was bred and later sold by Gervase Park Stud at Magic Millions’ flagship Western Australian yearling auction.
Around 30 minutes later it was the turn of the Sydney visitor Meryl to win another group race, when she proved too strong in the Group Three Scarborough Stakes.
A $150,000 Gold Coast Yearling Sale buy for Randwick Bloodstock in conjunction with Mystery Downs, Meryl led home a quinella result for Magic Millions Racing Women graduates with both the winner and runner-up Sweet Rockette being 100% raced by ladies.
Trainer Lee Curtis said Meryl would remain in Melbourne for further feature races over the Spring Carnival following her tough win tonight.
A daughter of Epaulette, Meryl was bred by Nick Hodges and sold through the draft of Riversdale at the 2017 Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Winner: Viddora
Breeding: I Am Invincible-Snow Flight (Colombia)
Race: MVRC AJ Moir Stakes G1 (1000m)
Sold for: $40,000
Sale: 2014 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale
Vendor: Riva Ridge Stud
Buyer: Kennewell Racing
Earnings: $2,400,181
Owner(s): LM Kennewell, CJ Cooke, M Adami, Dr T Hodgson, Mrs JE Bowditch, F Fitzgibbon, Mrs G Fitzgibbon, R Williamson, JB Kaufman, NJE Lovett, ML Simpson, D Rogers, Mrs K Rogers, S Ferguson, Mrs M Ferguson, Blue Hills Synd (Mgr: GJ Matheson) & T Cutler
Trainer: Lloyd Kennewell (Caulfield)
