KEY POINTS:
Stephen Autridge had plenty of reasons to be smiling after winning performances posted by stablemates Vegas Showgirl and Russian Conquest at Trentham and Ellerslie yesterday.
Vegas Showgirl overpowered the opposition to win the $60,000 Windsor Park Stud Galaxy Stakes effortlessly in the hands of Bruce Herd.
Russian Conquest took full advantage of the inexperienced Yao to defeat the hot favourite by a head in the $50,000 Sharp Great Northern Foal Stakes.
Autridge trains both runners in partnership with Graeme Rogerson.
"I couldn't think of a better time for the stable to come out firing and win two feature races with the boss back from Australia," said Autridge. "We've had that race in Wellington in mind for Vegas Showgirl for a little while and she'll now head to Brisbane for a winter campaign.
"There are a number of fillies and mares races in Brisbane including a Group One race and she'll handle any type of track."
Vegas Showgirl scored by three-quarters of a length over Venus Serena with a further half-head back to Quest For Kash (third).
The 4-year-old Al Akbar-sired mare has been a solid performer, scoring six wins and eight placings from 23 starts. Autridge has a soft spot for her.
"She's just one of those horses that'll go on any type of track and she's a very genuine race mare."
Russian Conquest, on the other hand, showed his professionalism as a racehorse when dive bombing an erratic Yao to win the 2-year-old feature at Ellerslie.
Jockey Cameron Lammas sat patiently off the leaders throughout the running of the 1400m feature and timed his challenge to perfection, defeating the favourite to win by a head. A further long neck third was Tief.
Yao sat outside the leader throughout and appeared to be coasting to an easy victory with 200m remaining until jockey David Walsh struck the giant gelding with his whip.
Yao ducked erratically outwards, costing himself a conservative two length margin and was a sitting duck for the late-closing Russian Conquest.
"Russian Conquest is a genuine little professional racehorse and he showed that experience today when outsprinting Yao," said Autridge.
"I have no doubt Yao is a smart racehorse but we'll take the win.
"He's now won three of his seven starts and he'll be getting up in the weights. We'll look at the Ryder Stakes and possibly the third day of the big meeting up in Ruakaka."
