Aldini Takes Out Spear Chief Handicap In Black Type Debut

David Kelly-trained gelding Aldini made his black type racing debut with a strong win in the 2014 Spear Chief Handicap at Eagle Farm this afternoon.

Aldini scored his second straight win in he Spear Chief Handicap at Eagle Farm this afternoon.

Aldini scored his second straight win in he Spear Chief Handicap at Eagle Farm this afternoon. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Aldini was taking winning form into the Spear Chief Handicap, after taking out the Von Bibra Great Wall Handicap (1400m) at the Gold Coast on May 24, and made it two wins on the trot with a fast-finishing effort in the Spear Chief Handicap.

Jockey Craig Newitt settled Aldini at the tail of the field in the early stages of the race before timing his run perfectly on the Magic Albert gelding and was thrilled to score a race win before he rides Tornado Miss in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m).

“He is like big old rocking, but he has obviously got plenty of ability,” Newitt said.

“He (David Kelly) was confident that he would run well, obviously he was stepping up in grade and he just had to rely on a good tempo.

“He is a get back runner and he got that today.”

Kelly admitted that the Spear Chief Handicap was not always on the agenda for Aldini, but said that the five-year-old earned a crack at the Listed event with his impressive victory last start and was thrilled that he received the quick tempo he required to be a factor in the finish.

“His last two runs have been great and things today went his way,” Kelly said.

“He is a get-back runner, so he needs a lot of luck and things just panned out beautifully for him.

“I was really happy with his win the other day at the Gold Coast, he wasn’t going to win and he just got to the line fantastic, and he pulled up well, so I just thought that we might as well have a crack at it.

“It has turned out good.

“He has always been a promising little horse and he has just had a few niggling issues and he is a very special horse to me.

“It was good to see him get the job done today.”

Aldini won the M.R. Sales Handicap (1200m) during the Grafton July Racing Carnival and Kelly revealed that another trip to Grafton was on the agenda for the talented gelding, with the South Grafton Cup on July 6 set to be his major target for the Spear Chief Handicap winner, but may look at a stronger race after today’s strong win

“I was thinking about taking him down home again for the South Grafton Cup, but we will have to start rethink and see what else is on the program,” Kelly said.

“He has a real good acceleration and sprint if he gets the right run and if things go the right way I’m sure that he will run a mile.

“We will take this in and see what is done.”

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.