TESTA Rossa galloper, Ranger continued the success of Vinery Stallions by stamping his claims for the Group One Railway Stakes and Perth Cup with a record breaking win in the $80,000 Northerly Stakes (1400m) at Ascot.
It capped a brilliant Saturday for Vinery Stallions with More Than Ready and Mossman securing Stakes victories on Caulfield Cup Day via Love Conquers All and More Joyous.
Second up and starting starting as second favourite, Ranger settled well and tracked the leader and even money favourite Waratah’s Secret in running.
Ranger found an inside split and took the lead with 200m to go to fight out a thrilling victory with Waratah’s Secret and sound a warning to future Spring rivals.
Ranger, who ran 11th as favourite in last January’s Perth Cup, shaved 0.1 seconds off Famous Roman’s Northerly Stakes record set last year.
The Testa Rossa five-year-old won brilliantly first-up over 1400m at Belmont Park a fortnight ago and will again be a force to be reckoned with this summer.
“He’s a very good horse Waratah’s so we’re happy to take that,” trainer Grant Williams told AAP
“It was a good job by the horse.”
Ranger could head to the Asian Beau Stakes (1400m) in a fortnight while Waratah’s Secret is set to back up in next Saturday’s Prince Of Wales Stakes (1200m).
