By David Nagel
Pakenham’s two leading trainers – Peter Moody and Phillip Stokes – chalked up winners at the two biggest meetings of the week as the build-up continues to their local cup on Saturday 4 December.
The $300,000 Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) promises to be a beauty, with some genuine top-flight stayers set to test their mettle in one of the great country cups of the season.
Pakenham’s standalone raceday – the feature meeting in Victoria on December 4 – is also one of the biggest social events on the calendar, with a huge crowd set to roar their approval as the horses head down the straight.
With Covid-restrictions easing, and locals eager for a huge party, Pakenham Cup Day looks set to be one of the biggest and best ever run!
Moody, who recently guided Incentivise to Caulfield Cup glory – struck first for Pakenham locals when Dance To Dubai scored an effortless win in the $60,000 BenchMark-64 Handicap (1200m) at The Valley on Friday night.
The four-year-old mare, who has now won three of her nine starts, jumped to the front from an inside gate and gave nothing else a chance.
The daughter of Pride of Dubai/Brisk was rated perfectly by jockey Alana Kelly, having no peace in front but kicking away on the turn to win by almost three lengths on the line.
The win made it back-to-back wins for the mare, who triumphed in a BM64 at Traralgon on October 30.
And Stokes ruined many a quaddie ticket at Ballarat on Saturday when Aquagirl ($26) made a late lunge to score a narrow victory in the last race on the card – the $150,000 Magic Millions Classic (1100m).
Aquagirl, ridden a patient race by Ben Allen, stormed down the outside to claim the $84,000 winners’ cheque.
The four-year-old mare ran down the Maher/Eustace-trained Easy Single ($8) by a long head, with Ranting ($8), ridden by Damien Oliver, and neck away in third.
