Mighty Lucky was able to grab his first win in well over a year when taking out the Listed Sky Thoroughbred Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Having not won since May of last year, the Fred Cowell-trained runner was able to upstage his more fancied rivals after settling sixth with Nathan Thomas in the saddle.
Mighty Lucky was able to get the better of It’s Somewhat who hit the line well and Peace Force who was also narrowly beaten.
This six-year-old Casino Prince gelding went to a new peak Timeform rating of 108, having run to 95 when third behind Zanbagh at Rosehill two starts back.
The Racing and Sports Field Strength Value (RSSF) indicates the race was on par for a listed race, held up by that of second placegetter It’s Somewhat with Group form.
The John O’Shea-trained runner is probably the one to follow out of the race who will take good improvement from his first up run.
It’s Somewhat is the highest rated runner of the Festival Stakes since Eremein won in 2008 with Mighty Lucky the lowest rated winner since Voice Commander in 2008.
One of the most intriguing winners of the day was the Godolphin runner Ghisoni who now remains undefeated from two career runs to date.
The three-year-old Lonhro filly returned a rating of 98p in the Watagan George Benchmark 73 Handicap (1200m) on Saturday, 15 pounds above her debut win at Warwick Farm.
Settling up in the speed with James McDonald in the saddle, Ghisoni proved too strong over the concluding stages for Stoker and Lady Sniper with the RSFS Value indicating it was above standard for a Benchmark 73 race.
The well bred filly, out of Portillo is probably the one to keep an eye on going forward out of the meeting and into the autumn carnival in 2016.
Happy Clapper continued his winning form with a tough win in the Bedford Ca Benchmark 85 Handicap (1500m).
The Patrick Webster-trained runner ran to a new peak rating of 107, some seven pounds above his first up win at Randwick.
Coming from back in the field to claim victory, the RSFS Value is right on par for a Benchmark 85 race with the racing and sports sectional splits indicating it was run inside Race Par.
Second placegetter Final Decision also ran to a new career peak of 94, three pounds above his win at Rosehill last campaign.
Other runners to follow out of the meeting include the Chris Waller-trained Telepathic who grabbed his second win in as many starts in the Tyreel Stud ATC Cup, running to a new peak rating of 106.
Running out a handy 1.8L winner over Lucky Lucky Lucky and Vilanova, the RSFS Value indicate it did not quite measure up to listed standard.
Telepathic, who has now won six of her 20 starts, ran only marginally better than his Benchmark 84 win at Rosehill two starts back.
There was not a great deal behind him with Lucky Lucky Lucky running to a new career peak of 102.
Got The Goss showed he is back in terrific order this campaign, with the Canberra galloper scoring a very narrow win in the Ranvet Benchmark 85 Handicap.
The five-year-old gelding who proved too good for Turbulent Jet and Mohave ran to a clear career peak of 102, his highest since returning a figure of 98 when winning at Warwick Farm in 2013.
The RSFS value indicates it was on par for a Benchmark 85 race with the sectional splits showing it was inside Race par as a majority of the races run on the day were.
It could well be a race to follow going forward into the summer features however with Turbulent Jet and Mohave both returning career peak figures of 102 and 99 respectively.
