By RUSSELL BENNETT
JOHN Sadler’s Digitalism led from start to finish in Sunday’s $300,000 TAB Cranbourne Cup, recording another emotion-charged win for owner Phil Sly.
“He’s really enjoying his horses at the moment, in fact it’s given him something to live for,” Sadler said after the race.
“We all want him to be around for a lot longer.”
Sly, who has been battling cancer for the past five years, was trackside on Saturday as another one of his horses – Politeness – won the Cape Grim Beef Steaks.
And on Sunday, Sadler paid tribute to him after apprentice jockey Michael Dee rode Digitalism to a big win – just edging out Pat Carey’s Kareeming.
“The older he’s got, the more mature he’s got,” Sadler said of the six-year-old gelding.
“It’s a case of a happy horse racing well and we’re trying to keep him happy
“I didn’t think he was good enough to win today, to be honest.
“Kareeming looked like he had him when they straightened.
“I went down to the fence so I could watch opposite the TV and they just walked up the straight – nothing wanted to lead, and he (Dee) did the right thing, the kid. He’s a really promising kid and even though I didn’t want to be in front, going so slowly I thought he was as good a chance as any.
“It’s just a real thrill to win a Cranbourne Cup with a horse like Digitalism.”
For his part, Dee admitted leading from the start wasn’t the original idea.
“That wasn’t the plan, but once he came from the barriers he pulled his way up I just had to settle there,” he said.
“Once I got there I slowed him up and we were able to get a comfortable lead through the race.
“He’s got a huge heart and he fought it out well.
“To actually pull it off is a huge thrill. I’m amazed I’ve won the Cranbourne Cup.”
In the lead-in to the Cup – the $100,000 Apache Cat Classic – Pat Carey’s General Jackson caused the mother of all upsets, knocking off previously undefeated Singapore star Super One.
“He’s a tough old prize fighting sprinter – that’s what he looks like – but he was able to get the job done nicely and hung on well,” Carey said after the race.
“Some of my long-term clients are in the horse so it’s just fantastic to have everyone involved. It’s great. Cranbourne is to absolutely be commended – they’ve put on a fantastic program for the horses – and it was a great ride by Pat Moloney too.”
Moloney said the horse responded just when it had to.
“He relaxed really nicely and when I gave him a niggle he gave me a little kick and that probably took a bit of the spring out of the others after we were riding at a nice tempo,” he said.
“This is fantastic. Pat (Carey) has been a massive supporter of mine – he’s one of my biggest supporters – and I can’t thank him enough.
“He presented the horse today in magnificent order – you wouldn’t see a better horse in the yard than his horse.”
Super One’s trainer, Michael Freedman, admitted his disappointment with the result after the race.
“On face value, a little bit disappointed,” he said.
“He sort of had his chance sitting outside the eventual winner.
“He looked a little bit unbalanced coming around the corner.
“I do think fitness-wise there’s a bit to come with him, because he hasn’t had a run since the end of July.”
On Friday night at Cranbourne, Mark Kavanagh’s Long Face Grace – with Glen Boss on board – edged out Zanteca to win the $100,000 Inglis Pinker Pinker Plate, named in honour of the 2011 Cox Plate winner which was trained at Cranbourne but died unexpectedly in 2012.
