Gluyas’ third straight Hill Smith success
Trainer Andrew Gluyas continued his domination on the Listed Hill-Smith Stakes on Saturday, chalking up a hat-trick of wins after Freedom Flame claimed victory at Morphettville.
Golden Guru was expected to be the colt to give Gluyas a sixth Hill-Smith win, but Freedom Flame upstaged her fancied stablemate with jockey Taylor Johnstone brought the filly wide at the 400m mark.
Gluyas has now won the three-year-old race six times, three on his own, alongside three when in partnership with Leon Macdonald, with trainer and connections now weighing up a tilt at the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes at Flemington on Derby Day (November 1), which can be used as a lead-in race to the Group 1 VRC Oaks (November 6).
Stretan Angel flew home down the Caulfield straight for former Morphettville trainer Phillip Stokes to take home the Manhari Alinghi Stakes on Saturday.
Sitting in 10th at the 400-metre mark, the five-year-old finished strong, winning by half a length over Soft Love and New York Lustre.
With local jockey Lachlan Neindorf on board, Stretan Angel saluted for the third time in 22 starts.
Stokes also had a winner at Morphettville on Saturday, when Zoupurring claimed the Access Hardware Handicap over 1200m, while Lady Potato Head won the Bridgestone Select Pakenham BM66 Handicap last Friday night.
