Reward For Effort is a reward for patience.
July 20th 2010 04:24
One year and three months after failing on a heavy Rosehill track in the 2009 Golden Slipper Stakes Reward For Effort returned to the racetrack.
Triumphantly.
(photos: Neil Murray) click image for enlargement
Neil Murray Photography
With an eventual stud career on the horizon it was the hope and plan of the owners Dynamic Syndications, and trainer Peter Moody, to have their Exceed And Excel colt a stakeswinner as a 3 year old, just as he had been so as a precocious 2 year old. To complete and reinforce the stallions racetrack resume. Time was running out as the end of the racing year is looming - as does a mandatory birthday. Peter Moody knew that he had his horse as fit as possible without actually racing - but after having more than a year off it was to be no easy task to defeat older horses (for the first time - at his first opportunity) in the Listed Sir John Monash Stakes (1100 metres) at Caulfield last Saturday.
Peter Moody thought Reward For Effort the equal of, if not better than, stablemate Wanted, who would go on to win the Group One Newmarket in the Autumn (with soon-to-be-awarded World Champion Sprinter Starspangledbanner back in 3rd place). Reward For Effort already has the much sought after Group One victory to his credit from his win in the Blue Diamond Stakes as a 2 year old. He now has the Listed Sir John Monash Stakes victory, with the Group Three Bletchingly Stakes (Caulfield 1200 metres) as a further Group race opportunity on the last day of the racing year. Reward For Effort will not get another chance to claim a Group One victory until his 4 year old year. But now his 3 year old year lists honours instead of reading as blank.
Sprinters usually improve from their first-up run. Hay List is another to illustrate this point with his first-up 2nd in the June Stakes at Randwick before demolishing his opposition in the Group Three Healy Stakes at Eagle Farm second-up. It seems logical that Reward For Effort can only improve with racing.
The scratching of likely pacemaker Signor Socks all but ensured that Luke Nolen aboard Reward For Effort would dictate the pace in his return to racing. A quick beginning ensured that the race was well controlled from the front - then the kick on the home turn to set up a 3 length gap. It was the final 100 metres that would present his only problem. Horses returning from an enforced injury layoff may sometimes fold when pressure is applied - and Reward For Effort was returning from a career threatening suspensory ligament injury - but to his credit Reward For Effort gave every indication that he still wants to be a racehorse with a courageous (if very narrow) win.
Reward for effort ($3.30) won by a short head from Keano; with Royal Ida a short-half-head back in 3rd placing.
I wrote about Reward For Effort's Blue Diamond victory on RacingWrite in February 2009. I reproduce part of that story below:
(full article)
The final surprise came in the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes when outsider @ $21.60 Reward For Effort would prove too strong after a masterful ride from Luke Nolen. I must admit that this win was not unexpected as he and runner-up Real Saga had the best recent speedfigures for this classic event. A strong case can be made that Real Saga was unlucky - but clearly they were the best two horses on the day. Earlier this week I wrote about the impending gear changes to be made for this race.
The very talented (Peter Moody trained) Exceed And Excel colt, Reward For Effort, gets winkers for his third race start. A big winner on debut in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview, he then chased home Real Saga in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude last start. Inexperienced and in his first campaign, he could significantly benefit from such an addition.
In the case of four of these five horses the gear change gives room for some expectation - and hope for an upset. It can be expected that either (one of) Come Hither, Irish Lights, or Reward For Effort, would come into contention - given their natural ability and already impressive records. - RacingWrite: Blinkered eyes on a Diamond prize.
Speedratings
Triumphantly.
Reward For Effort 150m from home - no challengers yet in sight
Neil Murray Photography
With an eventual stud career on the horizon it was the hope and plan of the owners Dynamic Syndications, and trainer Peter Moody, to have their Exceed And Excel colt a stakeswinner as a 3 year old, just as he had been so as a precocious 2 year old. To complete and reinforce the stallions racetrack resume. Time was running out as the end of the racing year is looming - as does a mandatory birthday. Peter Moody knew that he had his horse as fit as possible without actually racing - but after having more than a year off it was to be no easy task to defeat older horses (for the first time - at his first opportunity) in the Listed Sir John Monash Stakes (1100 metres) at Caulfield last Saturday.
Peter Moody thought Reward For Effort the equal of, if not better than, stablemate Wanted, who would go on to win the Group One Newmarket in the Autumn (with soon-to-be-awarded World Champion Sprinter Starspangledbanner back in 3rd place). Reward For Effort already has the much sought after Group One victory to his credit from his win in the Blue Diamond Stakes as a 2 year old. He now has the Listed Sir John Monash Stakes victory, with the Group Three Bletchingly Stakes (Caulfield 1200 metres) as a further Group race opportunity on the last day of the racing year. Reward For Effort will not get another chance to claim a Group One victory until his 4 year old year. But now his 3 year old year lists honours instead of reading as blank.
Sprinters usually improve from their first-up run. Hay List is another to illustrate this point with his first-up 2nd in the June Stakes at Randwick before demolishing his opposition in the Group Three Healy Stakes at Eagle Farm second-up. It seems logical that Reward For Effort can only improve with racing.
The scratching of likely pacemaker Signor Socks all but ensured that Luke Nolen aboard Reward For Effort would dictate the pace in his return to racing. A quick beginning ensured that the race was well controlled from the front - then the kick on the home turn to set up a 3 length gap. It was the final 100 metres that would present his only problem. Horses returning from an enforced injury layoff may sometimes fold when pressure is applied - and Reward For Effort was returning from a career threatening suspensory ligament injury - but to his credit Reward For Effort gave every indication that he still wants to be a racehorse with a courageous (if very narrow) win.
Reward for effort ($3.30) won by a short head from Keano; with Royal Ida a short-half-head back in 3rd placing.
I wrote about Reward For Effort's Blue Diamond victory on RacingWrite in February 2009. I reproduce part of that story below:
(full article)
The final surprise came in the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes when outsider @ $21.60 Reward For Effort would prove too strong after a masterful ride from Luke Nolen. I must admit that this win was not unexpected as he and runner-up Real Saga had the best recent speedfigures for this classic event. A strong case can be made that Real Saga was unlucky - but clearly they were the best two horses on the day. Earlier this week I wrote about the impending gear changes to be made for this race.
The very talented (Peter Moody trained) Exceed And Excel colt, Reward For Effort, gets winkers for his third race start. A big winner on debut in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview, he then chased home Real Saga in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude last start. Inexperienced and in his first campaign, he could significantly benefit from such an addition.
In the case of four of these five horses the gear change gives room for some expectation - and hope for an upset. It can be expected that either (one of) Come Hither, Irish Lights, or Reward For Effort, would come into contention - given their natural ability and already impressive records. - RacingWrite: Blinkered eyes on a Diamond prize.
Speedratings
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