They thought that Ashford Street was purely a wet-tracker but in his seven-year-old season, the gelding has decided otherwise.
After a winless spring campaign, trainer Tom Dabernig thought a spell was the way to go but with the encouragement of the horse’s ownership, pressing on with greater gaps between runs has delivered victory in the Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield Heath on Boxing Day.
Ashford Street ($11) also provided jockey Jamie Mott with a race day riding treble after wins on Centennial Park and Ziryab earlier on the card.
“I must admit that we were considering turning him out but the owner, Peter McLaren, suggested we turn him out for a short break and target something over the summer,” Dabernig said.
“He used to be a wet-tracker but his best form of late has been on the dry so we thought it was worth a try.
“He seems to like these little freshen ups and he’s got a liking here for the track.”
Bookmakers favourite Mrs Chrissie ($2.40) loomed midway up the inner course’s straight but stopped quickly while Ashford Street sprinted through to win by a half-length with the Danny O-Brien-trained It’sourtime ($11) in third.
Dabernig noted the Listed W J Adams Stakes over 1000-metres on the main Caulfield circuit on January 25 to be an ideal spacing between runs for the son of the lightly raced sire Moshe.
Mott’s three wins took his season tally to 16 while Craig Williams’ double on the day saw him take a two-win lead over Blake Shinn in the Melbourne Jockeys’ Premiership.
