Cindy Monaghan received a pleasant surprise on Monday when Trajectory scored her breakthrough win in style.
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The four-year-old mare was popular among punters, jumping from barrier seven as a $4.20 chance in the Kennards Hire Online Maiden Handicap (1400m), but Dubbo trainer Monaghan was wary of her chances having only had one start since a six month spell.
There was no need to worry though as Travis Wolfgram piloting her to a one-and-three-quarter length win.
“I just thought she might have been a run short,” Monaghan said after the win.
“Only second up, I thought if she’d had another run I would have been pretty confident.”
Trajectory came into the event off the back up of a seventh placed finish last time out at Dubbo on May 14.
While on paper that appears nothing too special, Monaghan was delighted with the run as Trajectory had run home well after sitting at the back of the field for much of that 1100m journey.
The extra distance helped on Monday, with Trajectory sitting third most of the trip before getting a clear run through the middle of the straight and easing to victory.
“She had a really, really good run first up. She came from last and really worked to the line well so I was really happy,” Monaghan said.
“I just would have been more confident had she had another run under her belt before today but she’s done the job.
“She’s a nice mare and I think we’ll see a bit more of her.”
Wolfgram, who had earlier won the day’s first event with Flight Risk for fellow Dubbo trainer Darren Hyde, produced another fine effort in the saddle.
Trajectory beat home Darby Blue ($26), trained at Wellington by Terry Fahey, while Ashleigh ($4.60) was third for Scone’s Brett Cavanough.
“That’s his only his second ride for me but he’s rode the horses well so hopefully we can continue to put him on,” Monaghan said of Wolfgram.
The win, coming in Trajectory’s 20th career start, was even more of a bonus for Monaghan given her feelings the mare was more of a chance over 1600m, a distance she is expected to race over in the near future.
The Dubbo trainer added a Class 1 Maiden Plate was the likely next event for he progeny of Northern Meteor and Opaque.
Ryan joined Wolfgram in recording a Dubbo double, guiding Bee Double Bee and The Frick to victory inside the day’s first six events.
Bee Double Bee’s win was a first for Dubbo trainer Clint Lundholm in six starts while the latter’s win showed his improvement this preparation.
The Frick, trained at Mudgee by Cameron Crockett, scored back-to-back thirds when returning from a 10-week let-up and that has been followed by successive wins at Dubbo Turf Club.