Euro Angel to chase more riches after Ladies’ Day Vase win

Promising mare Euro Angel will chase more Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival riches after claiming her first Stakes race with a win in the Group 3 $150,000 Nick Johnstone Real Estate Ladies’ Day Vase (1600m) at Caulfield today.

Euro Angel, above winning at Flemington in June, won the Ladie's Day Vase at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Euro Angel, above winning at Flemington in June, won the Ladie’s Day Vase at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Co-trainer Wayne Hawkes was ecstatic that Euro Angel ($5.50 favourite) had to overcome a wide run to record a solid win over $21 outsider Rocket Commander with Antelucan ($15) running her best race for a while to run into third spot.

Haweks said that Euro Angel would continue race on into the Spring Carnival but hasn’t mapped out a firm program but the Group 1 $500,000 Myer Classic (1600m) for the fillies and mares at Flemington on October 29 looks a likely target.

“It was pretty good win. To be fair she was behind Kavanagh’s horse (Tears Of Joy) and she did have cover,” Hawkes said.

“He was three deep in not a fast run race and when he peeled off on the corner it was a matter of how far. But at the top of the straight I thought you will have to be good anyway but she put paid to them.

“I said before the race if she runs good there are bigger and better things. Where she is going to go I don’t know. I don’t care now she is a stakes winner. She is a very very valuable brood mare now.”

Winning jockey Dwayne Dunn is enjoying a great Caulfield Cup Carnival and after riding a Group 1 double at Caulfield last Saturday found the winner’s stall twice today on Euro Angel and Keen Array in the Listed $120,000 Italktravel Stakes (1200m).

Last Saturday Dunn won the Group 1 $1m Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on Divine Prophet for the Hawkes Team of John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes and he won the Group 1 $500,000 IG Markets Toorak Handicap (1600m) on He’s Our Rokkii for the Lindsay Park Racing Team.

The in-form Dunn had Euro Angel travelling sweetly midfield from barrier ten and gave the Rip Van Winkle mare plenty of galloping room on the home turn before giving her an uninterrupted run to the line to record a one and half lengths win.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.