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Hawkesbury News: 10th September 2024

3 minute read

One Hawkesbury trainer is looking to the future with a Queanbeyan winner today whilst another stable was simply happy to get a breakthrough at Muswellbrook.

Trainer : JAMES PONSONBY after, PHILIPSBURG winning the Schweppes (Bm72)
Trainer : JAMES PONSONBY after, PHILIPSBURG winning the Schweppes (Bm72) Picture: Martin King / Sportpix

James Ponsonby won the Class 1/Maiden Plate (1600m) with recent acquisition Prince Of Arendell ($3.30 favorite) at Queanbeyan to clinch his second success of the season, and Brad Widdup lifted his tally to 14 when Ramius ($3.70) finally hit the scoreboard at Muswellbrook, in the Maiden Handicap (1280m).

Both horses were Sydney cast-offs and between them fetched $280,000 as yearlings.

They were on sold for considerably less; Prince Of Arendell for $15,000 ($130,000 as a yearling) and Ramius $11,000 ($150,000 as a yearling).

Dundeel four-year-old Prince Of Arendell was a recent purchase for Ponsonby, and has quickly repaid his owners with a first-up Wagga second for his new stable and now a Queanbeyan victory.

But he's headed for the spelling paddock, with his trainer looking forward to getting him back at a later stage.

"Prince Of Arendell is a well-bred horse, and we were pleased to get him for a relatively reasonable price," Ponsonby said on the way home.

"He won his Maiden over 2000m at Kembla Grange in January on heavy ground, and also was a close second to Brad Widdup's Guzumped (who recently won the Wyong Cup Prelude) in a 1600m Class 1 Handicap at Wyong in June.

"Mathew Cahill, who rode Prince Of Arendell today, said he wanted to pull in the race, and that's indicative of a horse who has gone over the top.

"In the circumstance he did a good job to concede the runner-up Mandalong Starz ($4.80), but that's it for now.

"Prince Of Arendell has a lot of attributes that I liked when I bought him, so he ticked a lot of boxes.

"I'm sure the spell will do him the world of good, and hopefully we can get him to midweek company in town next campaign."

Whilst Ponsonby enjoyed success with Prince Of Arendell, stablemate Statesville ($31) finished last in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1460m) five races later.

"We went from hero to zero, and that keeps me humble," he joked.

"Statesville was racing for only the second time since a decent break, and we had to claim to lessen his 63.5kg handicap," Ponsonby said.

"He is going to need more racing."

At Muswellbrook , apprentice Mitch Stapleford made a group of owners very happy when he scored on Ramius at the gelding's 11th start, but sixth for Widdup.

After being tardy at the start, the Russian Revolution four-year-old zoomed up wide on the track on the home turn and quickly put paid to his rivals to win running away.

"Ramius has been a bit tricky," stable spokesperson Rosie Jilla said. "He works like a really good horse but hasn't been able to take that to the races until today, although he has been consistent.

"We're really pleased for his owners, who have had to be patient to get a win with him.

"The plan was to be forward from the jump, but Mitch (Stapleford) said he was fresh in the gates and didn't leave on terms with the field.

"That was surprising considering he had raced five times previously for our stable."

Ramius had not finished further back than fourth since joining Widdup's team, and was placed at his three previous starts, including a narrow defeat in a 1300m Newcastle Provincial Maiden on August 29.

There was no requirement for a photo finish this time. His winning margin was more than three lengths.

. Ponsonby and Widdup's victories took the number of winners to 29 so far this season for the Hawkesbury training base – and 12 have come in the first 10 days of September.


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