Jockey Hugh Bowman capped off an outstanding 2015 Scone Cup Carnival to steer That’s A Good Idea to victory in the 2015 Ortensia Stakes at Scone this afternoon.
That’s A Good Idea was having his first race start since he finished at the tail of the field in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on January 31, but Bowman elected to ride the Flying Spur gelding aggressively in the final stages of the race.
Veteran gelding Zaratone made sure that the Ortensia Stakes was run with plenty of speed and Bowman got going early on That’s A Good Idea and the five-year-old was able to take up the running at the 150 metre mark.
That’s A Good Idea clearly tired in the final stages of the race and Target In Sight and Atmospherical both made up plenty of ground late, but Bowman timed his run on the gelding to the second and he was able to hold on for a 2015 Ortensia Stakes victory.
The Ortensia Stakes win was That’s A Good Idea’s first since he beat I’m All The Talk in the Supporting Four Tracks Four Kids Handicap (1000m) at Randwick on October 6 and was a fitting reward for Bowman, who was awarded the Golden Whip award following his victories on Prime Target in the Dane Shadow Handicap and Flippant in the Listed Woodlands Stakes (1100m) as well as a host of minor placings across the two days of the Carnival.
Target In Sight hit the line strongly to maintain his consistent run of form this preparation and he could head to Queensland for a race like the QTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben on May 30 following his win in the Group 3 Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m) and second place finish in the Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m) earlier this campaign.
Atmospherical has been slightly disappointing this preparation, but she returned to a semblance of her best form with a fast-finishing third in the Ortensia Stakes this afternoon.
The Northern Meteor mare ran well in both the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) and Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m), but she failed to fire in both the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 21 and the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 11.
Zaratone showed his trademark early speed in the Ortensia Stakes and opened up a fair gap on the rest of the field, but he tired in the final stages to miss the placings.
