Racing: Afterthought produces a Sires victory

BRISBANE - Trainer Bob Thomsen turned misfortune into a masterstroke when his lightly raced 2-year-old Danleigh gave the Randwick mentor his second win in the group-two QTC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm.

Thomsen said the decision to start Danleigh in Saturday's race was an afterthought and the Mujahid gelding would not have travelled to Brisbane had Thomsen not been forced to spell his original Sires' prospect, Turban.

"He's probably my second stringer, he would not have even been here had I not been forced to pull the pin with Turban after he jarred up during the week," Thomsen said.

"But I'll take that, he's a nice horse and a more than capable back up for Turban."

Ridden quietly by gun Brisbane jockey Michael Rodd, Danleigh finished powerfully to grab the favourite, Toowoomba filly Gold Edition, in the shadows of the post to score by a half-length.

Upper Echelon finished an unlucky third a length away after enduring a chequered passage in the straight.

Danleigh was Thomsen's second winner in the QTC Sires after his star filly Slight Chance won the race in 1992 when it was run at group one level.

Slight Chance went on to complete the QTC Sires-TJ Smith feature double but Thomsen said he was not sure if he would pay the A$27,500 ($32,895) late entry for the TJ Smith next Monday and give Danleigh the chance to achieve the same feat.

"I'm not yet certain what to do with him," Thomsen said.

"I originally said he would not be starting in the TJ Smith but if I'm happy with the weight he gets I'll start him, if not I'll spell him."

One person certain to try to convince Thomsen will be Rodd.

Rodd said he was surprised how relaxed Danleigh was going to the barriers and rated the horse an ideal TJ Smith prospect.

"He was never on the bit, not even when we cantered around to the barriers," Rodd said.

"I was happy to let him settle where he was comfortable during the run and I just sat and sat and sat before I went for him.

"I let him get balanced once we straightened up and he sprinted quickly when I went for him, his last 30 metres was his best and he will get a mile easily."

Connections of Upper Echelon said the Fusaichi Pegasus filly was a certain TJ Smith starter.

Toowoomba trainer Ron Maund confirmed his fillies Gold Edition and Pure Energy, who finished 13th, would be spelled immediately.