Just over a month ago, Dean Yendall broke the 1,000 metre Geelong synthetic track record aboard Novaspirit. Two weeks later they returned to the same venue and after being held up for the majority of the race stormed home to finish fourth.
Dean was unavailable to ride yesterday and so Daniel Moor was booked for the ride aboard Novaspirit. Shea Eden had placed the Bel Esprit mare well. The venue and the distance were the same yet the grade was considerably higher – a benchmark 72 rating race. She came into the field with the lightest weight of just 54.0 kgs – 3.0kgs lighter than the weight she carried when she broke the track record.
Daniel rode her superbly. Novaspirit settled in her customary position toward the rear. Daniel angled wider at the turn, and then took a run between horses. Novaspirit responded and quickly moved into contention. Shiny And New, who was momentarily held up, quickened along the inside. Spatha loomed and Novaspirt joined in to make it a three way go at the wire. Novaspirit prevailed with just 0.3lengths covering the first three and daylight to the rest.
The Lauriston bred five year old mare has endured a career plagued with injury. Yet from just twelve starts she has won three races and in her second start ran the good mare Obsidian Dragon to half a length at Morphettville.
