La Passe Wins Again In 2015 Tristarc Stakes

La Passe upstaged her more fancied rivals to record another upset win in the 2015 Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield this afternoon.

La Passe hit the front at the right time to take out the 2015 Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield this afternoon. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

La Passe hit the front at the right time to take out the 2015 Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield this afternoon. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

La Passe scored her maiden win at stakes level at big odds in the Group 2 Blazer Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on October 4, but there was still no support for the Street Sense mare in the lead-up to the Tristarc Stakes and she went around at $21.

There looked to be seven winning chances in the finals stages of the Tristarc Stakes, but jockey Michelle Payne found clear running on the rail and she hit the front at the right time to record a narrow win from a very game Solicit.

Payne has ridden La Passe in both the Tristarc Stakes and the Blazer Stakes and she believes that it was the application of blinkers that made the difference in the final stages of this afternoon’s race.

“I’ve ridden this horse now two from two and she is just an absolute delight to ride and she makes your job so much easier,” Payne said.

“Today we elected to put blinkers on because last time she was a bit hesitant in amongst them and I really believe that was the winning move because she had to take a tight run up the inside in the straight.

“She just powered to the line, she is in great form and it is just fantastic to be here and fantastic to have another winner.”

The victory of La Passe gave trainer Darren Weir a feature race day double following the victory of Stratum Star in the David Jones Cup and he was quick to pay credit to the work his team have done with the talented mare.

Weir did not expect La Passe to make it this far during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival, but he confirmed that he would likely give the five-year-old a chance at Group 1 level in the Myer Classic on Victoria Derby Day.

“We thought that she probably needed to improve and I talked to Michelle and we went with the idea of putting blinkers on her,” Weir said.

“It was obviously a good move, she got a beautiful ride today.

“She has a great will to win.

“You would nearly have to (go to the Myer Classic) on that and I would say that we will roll the dice.

“As long as she does well between now and then is the important thing, but it is pretty hard to get horses in that sort of form.

“With a Group 1 coming up in a couple of weeks, I am pretty sure she will be going there.”

Popular mare Catkins started the Tristarc Stakes as favourite and she received a lovely run into the race, but she was unable to respond when asked for an extra effort and she finished at the tail of the field.

Leading online bookmaker Ladbrokes is still offering Best Tote or Starting Price +20% on every single race at Caulfield this afternoon, so don’t miss out on the best odds for every single Caulfield Cup runner.

About The Author

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.