Long Weekend Double

We did not have a lot of runners this long weekend but they raced extremely well - Ballymore represented by a double with Saint Or Sinner successful at Werribee on Sunday and Devonshire Duke a winner at Mornington on Monday.

Having only his second run back from a spell, Saint Or Sinner had suffered a setback in between runs but he proved a class above his rivals in the New Zealand Bloodstock Showcase BM70 Handicap.

And he did not do it easily, from an outside gate sitting very wide throughout. Usually after such a torrid run a horse could be expected to tire but Saint Or Sinner just kept coming - his win an especially game one.

Always well regarded - thought highly enough of to race at stakes level in Queensland last winter - Saint Or Sinner still has plenty of upside as the winner of three of just 10 starts.

"He still has improvement in him," Matt Hoysted reported, adding that it was "good to see him flatten out and find the line."

"He didn't have much luck in running," he said, "and he is probably looking for 1600m now."

"He is a half brother to Divine Rebel who had great staying ability so hopefully he does as well."

Rider Damien Oliver was taken with the style of Saint Or Sinner's victory, saying that he did not enjoy the best of runs - "I was in between a rock and a hard place - whether to push forward or go back; I ended up being caught out on a limb."

"He did a good job," he continued - " there was a lot of merit in the way he kicked on after the run he had."

Congratulations to owners R & C Legh Racing, Gurners Bloodstock, GG Ltd, Barry Broomhead, Barry and Deidre Neville-White, Glenn Mews, Harold Hansen, Noel & Judy Griffin and Ballymore Stables (Aust) Pty Ltd for whom Saint Or Sinner was a bargain $NZ36,000 yearling purchased by Paul Moroney.

Another happy group headed by Gurners Bloodstock were cheering on Monday with Devonshire Duke (pictured) leading throughout to win the Prancing Horse Estate Wines Handicap at Mornington.

A horse who generally prefers the sting out, Devonshire Duke had been close up at previous outings and was deserving of his win on the back of consistent form.

And he won despite not really being at home on the tricky Mornington circuit.

"He struggled to get around the turns," said in-form jockey Katelyn Mallyon, "and he got a bit lost in the straight."

"But," she continued, "he had his ears pricked and was doing it pretty easily."

A four times winner from 18 starts, Devonshire Duke, a son of Keeper, shows good middle distance potential and looks to have better things in store.