Fry Claims Apprentices Cup
- Saturday, 24 July 2010 09:37
Apprentice Jarrod Fry shined amongst his peers with a beautiful ride aboard Belscenica in the $70,000 Travis Harrison Apprentices Cup (1514m), at Moonee Valley this afternoon.
The race which is restricted to apprentice riders only contained its usual excitement – or as Fry described it “there’s just a little more carnage then usual races.”
Belscenica was restrained at the start before settling toward the rear of the field, four back along the rails.
She was severely tightened for room along the inside rail approaching the 400 metre mark and her chances of victory appeared silm.
However Fry didn’t panic and was able to hook his mount away from the heels of weakening runners on the fence.
Gaining a split at the top of the straight, Belscenica ($10-$15) rattled home to finish over the top of early leader Das Machen ($2.15-$2.50-$2.25 fav) to win by three quarter lengths with Chouxmaani ($15-$17) a further half length away in third.
Game Serena ($26) finished a further length and a quarter away in fourth.
“We were held up and all we needed was half a run and when she got it, she accelerated really well,” Fry said.
“She was really travelling and handled the conditions well and got to the line well.”
Tony Noonan, who had stablemate Diamond Envy in the race as well with son Jake in the saddle, gave Fry a friendly backhanded complement post-race.
“What a great ride and he needed to after his ride at Sandown Hillside last Wednesday,” Noonan quipped, referring to Belscenica finishing sixth behind Shysta.
“He’s a good kid too, he’s a tough nut who took some runs that were tight but needed to be taken.
“She balanced up and hit the line hard,” he added.
Belscenica has recorded her previous three victories at Moonee Valley with Noonan suggesting she will have a few more runs this preparation over 1800 to 2000 metres races against her own sex.
Belscenica has won six races from 20 starts and consequently her prizemoney is now in excess of $180,000.
By Scenic out of Bellonic, Belscenica is a full-sister to Ozolins who was formerly trained by Noonan but now races in Hong Kong under the name of Speedy Pegasus.
Picture: Greg Irvine
