Improving mare Atmospherical made it back to back wins by taking out the Listed $150,000 Dilmah Earl Grey Stakes (1000m) at Flemington today.
Atmospherical and James McDonald take out the Dilmah Earl Grey Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.
The David Pfieffer trained Atmospherical stepped up to Listed company after winning in restricted class at Rosehill last start and the Warwick Farm trainer expects more improvement to come.
“She has always been a handy filly and she seems to get better with age,” Pfieffer said.
“It is always a bit of a query down the straight for the first time and coming to a new state but she acquitted herself well, James rode her perfect and she looked the winner a long way out.”
“She really seems to love the hot tempo and for along while she has improved for us.”
In form jockey James McDonlad was on song again collecting his second win for the day after combining with the Leon and Troy Corstens trained You Rock to win the $100,000 Swisse Wellness Trophy (1800m) earlier in the day.
McDonald also rode a winning double on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington on Atacama in the Listed $150,000 James Boag’s Premium Stakes (1800m) and on Mahara in the Group 3 $200,000 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m).
McDonald had Atmospherical ($4.60) planted behind the three leaders and once he manoeuvred her into the clear at the 250m, the Northern Meteor mare exploded to the lead to record a one and a half lengths win over Consorting ($17) and Straight Gold ($12).
“She was brilliant. She relaxed well, she had a lovely run and she was too good for them,” McDonald said.
The Peter Moody trained Angels Beach was sent out the $3.70 favourite but after racing in the first three, faded at the end to finish four lengths from the winner in seventh spot.
