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A pair of promising three-year-olds in the form of Air Comet and Trick Shot have each broken maiden status at the ATC's Kembla Grange meeting on Wednesday.
Following an underwhelming effort at Hawkesbury last start Air Comet was sent out as a middle tier hope in today's $27,000 Southern Educational Services 3YO Plate (1400m).
Air Comet enjoyed a cosy run in transit under the guidance of Peter Robl as he positioned the Anabaa gelding behind early leader Mind You.
Robl kept the first emergency near the rail around the turn and managed to get Air Comet out into clear running at the 200m.
Once into space the three-year-old burst to the front and raced away for a 1.8 length win over The Firehouse and Carbon Taikun.
“It was a nice win,” Stable Representative David Wilson said.
“Anthony thought he would run well from the barrier and Pete [Robl] gave him the nice ride so it all went according to plan.”
Randwick trainer Anthony Cummings elected to remove Blinkers from the gelding in exchange for a Noseroll which according to Wilson was what sparked the required improvement.
“Anthony has been tinkering around with a few gear changes on him and it has paid dividends today,” Wilson said.
The win aboard Air Comet's was Robl's lone result from four rides at Kembla Grange today with two of his mounts for the meeting, Chula Vista and Gallant Spur scratched.
“He raced terrific today. I spoke to Hugh Bowman [previous rider] before the race and he said he gave him the feel of a nice horse and he's produced that today which is good,” Robl said.
“He travelled on the bridle and getting to the corner he believed he was going good. When the run came he let down and attacked the line well.”
In the fillies three-year-old event it was Chris Waller-trained Trick Shot who came away with a maiden victory.
The Al Maher filly had been runner up at her first two career starts with the latest at Canterbury on December 16.
Trick Shot today was one of the best away and was urged straight to the lead by Corey Brown.
Headed by outsider Systems in the straight, Trick Shot managed to fight back and gain the upper hand over the concluding stages for a determined ½ neck victory.
“She is a handy filly,” Waller said.
“Just one that slowly sneaks up and keeps improving at each step and today was obviously the next step.
“She ran a good time, breaking 1:10 and zipped home in really quick time so she is a handy filly.”
