Night War wins Lee-Steere Classic

A change of riding tactics allowed promising filly Night War to turn the tables on Watermans Bay and  win the Group 3 Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic (1400m) at Ascot today.

The daughter of sprint sire General Nediym and Samar (Secret Savings) lowered her colours when last start odds on favourite to Watermans Bay in the Listed Placid Ark (1200m) at Ascot on November 24.

That day jockey Pat Carberry led and was run down in the final 200m but the hoop rode a gem on Night War today.

Carberry had the chestnut ahead of three horses on the fence after 200m after jumping out of barrier eight.

The Group 2 Karrakatta Plate winner enjoyed a soft run from that point.

Jockey Steven Parnham led on Pure Heaven and tried to stack the field forcing wide runners Born To Excel with Venetian Prince to forge forward.

Born To Excel went to the lead and it shuffled Watermans Bay back fifth on the fence with Night War immediately behind it.

As they rounded the turn,Night War was extricated from the fence first but Troy Turner on Watermans Bay managed it as well.

Born To Excel kicked but Watermans Bay, hanging in, gained with Night War a length away.

Watermans Bay hit the front 50m from the line before Night War caught him in the final stride.

The first three past the post spaced the others.

The Simon Miller-trained Night War took her earnings to  over $500,000 with her fourth win from just seven starts.

“I said to him (Carbery) before the race that the leaders are getting a bit  swamped,” Miller said.

“I said, If she jumps on terms with them, don’t be afraid to come a few pairs back and try and give her a cushy run.

“I said to wait until you are in the straight before you push the ‘go’ button.

“With the way the race panned out I knew we were going to be right in the finish.”

All Night War’s wins have been at Ascot and it was her first beyond 1200m.

Race 5 – 3:45PM SIR ERNEST LEE-STEERE CLASSIC (1400 METRES)
Of $125,000.1st $81,250, 2nd $25,000, 3rd $11,250, 4th $5,000, 5th $2,500 GROUP 3
Set Weights, Three-Years-Old, Apprentices cannot claim.
WestSpeed BonusTrack Condition: Dead 4 Time: 1:23.75 Last 600m: 0:35.69 INTERIM RESULTS

 

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Starting Price
1 9 NIGHT WAR Simon A Miller Patrick Carbery 7 54kg $3.60
2 1 WATERMANS BAY Peter Giadresco Troy Turner 0.25L 2 56kg $4
3 6 BORN TO EXCEL Daniel Morton William Pike 0.75L 8 56kg $4
4 5 VENETIAN PRINCE Trevor Andrews Jarrad Noske 5.25L 6 56kg $8
5 11 PURE HEAVEN Neville Parnham Steven Parnham 5.5L 1 54kg $31
6 10 ALMACHINO Neville Parnham Brad Parnham 5.75L 5 54kg $7.50
7 7 MURPHY’S RED BOY Lindsey Smith Alan Kennedy 8.5L 10 56kg $61
8 8 TEMPLES Lou Luciani & Dion Luciani Jason Brown 8.5L 9 56kg $71
9 3 TAX A MILLION Sharon Taylor Takahide Ikenushi 11.25L 4 56kg $41
10 2 GRACETOWN Jason Pateman Paul Harvey 12.25L 3 56kg $21
4 EXCLUSIVE HONOUR Lou Luciani & Dion Luciani Jason Whiting 7

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