Rarely has a victory so narrow made as big a statement as Orchestral’s thriller in the A$750,000 Vinery Stakes in Sydney on Saturday.
And it started a remarkable hour for Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood, who went on to win the A$500,000 Roy Higgins Stakes with Mark Twain at Flemington, earning him a spot in this year’s Melbourne Cup.
As good as he was, the star of the day was Orchestral, the New Zealand filly wearing down a brilliantly-ridden Tutta La Vita, who almost stole the Vinery at the 500m mark when Nash Rawiller launched a surprise attack for the lead and shot clear.
On her Australian debut after an unbeaten start to the year, Orchestral had plenty against her, as she wasn’t suited by the slow middle sectionals, was left flat-footed and then wobbled around the flat Rosehill final bend.
At the 250m, she looked in trouble, but as has been the case during her winning run here, she got stronger over the last 100m, and while she hit the lead only at the 30m mark, she won going away.