Seymour filly wins TBV Champagne Stakes

Chatswood Stud stallion Reward for Effort has hit back from some adverse news to sire a second stakes winner at Moonee Valley.

His Seymour-based filly Take Pride skipped clear of her rivals for a three-length victory over hot favourite Secret Agenda in the G3 TBV Champagne Stakes (1200m) on Friday evening.  “She’s very quick and is at the top of her game,” owner-trainer Murray Johnson said.  “We will just enjoy tonight before making a decision on her next start.  There are lots of options.”

Take Pride (3f Reward For Effort – Shabtis by Elusive Quality) had finished close up behind Petits Filous in stakes races at Caulfield and Flemington before the breakthrough at Moonee Valley.  She is from a half-sister to the dam of Mummify and cost owner Peter Murray $94,000 from Eldon Park at the 2014 Inglis Melbourne Premier.

“Murray had her cherry ripe tonight,” winning jockey Patrick Moloney said.  “She’s a horse with plenty of ability and plenty of speed.”

Reward for Effort received a setback last week when his Group 3 winner Gold Symphony was ruled out of the spring carnival.  The Peter Moody trained colt doubled up in the Vain Stakes (1100m) and McNeil Stakes (1200m) in August before an elevated temperature meant he missed a trip to Sydney for the G1 Golden Rose.

Gold Symphony has recovered but has been tipped out for a six-week spell.

Reward for Effort won the Victorian freshman title last season and he is leading the current Australian second-season premiership with earnings of $408,535.  Apart from Gold Symphony and Take Pride, his 3yo winners this season include Effortless (Bendigo), Take a Sip (Northam), Marie Clare (Devonport) & Ability (Sale).

The Chatswood Stud champion is ready to make a similar impression with his second crop of two year-olds starting with his filly White Feather who won an 800m barrier trial at Morphettville on Friday.

White Feather is trained by Dan Clarken for owner Michael Duffield and her dam Sugus’ Song (Jan Murray) has already thrown winners by Bianconi, Orpen, Lycius and Bite The Bullet.

Chatswood Stud stands Reward for Effort (Exceed And Excel) for an $11,000 (inc gst) service fee.