Veteran trainer John Sadler remains unbeaten since joining Aquanita Racing after Charmed Harmony scored a dominant victory in the Le Pine Funerals Handicap(1400m) at Sandown yesterday.
Vain Queen won the Dominant Handicap for John Sadler at Moonee Valley on Saturday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Sadler has struggled with depression for the past 12 months and took a break from training for Malua Racing at the end of last year, but has quickly returned to winning form since rejoining Aquanita Racing.
Gallant Harmony gave Sadler his first winner for the operation in the Elephant & Castle Hotel Handicap at Geelong last Tuesday and he scored a metropolitan victory with Vain Queen in the Dominant Handicap (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday before winning the Mitavite Handicap with Excited Spirit at Mornington on Monday.
Charmed Harmony was well-backed in the lead-up to the Le Pine Funerals Handicap and the Hussonet gelding went straight to the lead in the early stages of the race and was well clear of the rest of the field coming around the final turn.
Jockey Tom Sadler kept Charmed Harmony under a hold at the 300 metre mark, while the rest of the field struggled off the bit, and the four-year-old stormed away from the rest of the field when asked for an effort to score a comfortable eight lengths victory.
Tom Sadler said after the race that his plan had always been to allow Charmed Harmony to get into a comfortable rhythm in the early stages of the race, but admitted that he was surprised at just how easily the gelding was able to run away from the rest of the field.
“I came out with a plan of just leaving him alone and letting him set his own tempo and I knew coming to the top of the straight that I’d gone a decent clip, but I knew he was very relaxed and I really felt I was jogging at the top of the straight,” Sadler told Racing Victoria.
“I didn’t realise I was going to brain them by that far and when I gathered up a hold I realised there was nothing even near me.
“I thought he’d win but I didn’t think he’d win that well.”
Sadler will have the opportunity to extend his winning streak when Human League contests the National Patient Transport Rising Star Showcase Handicap (1309m) at Seymour this afternoon, while he has Marli Magic down to run in the Hyland Racing Colours Handicap (1300m) at Geelong on Friday.
