Unique Lovely provided her trainer Frankie Stockdale with a memorable victory when she claimed Saturday’s $100,000 Bidfood Handicap (1000m) at Moonee Valley.
The three-year-old filly was partnered in the race by Stockdale’s son Brandon and provided the father and son duo with their first metropolitan win in combination.
Frankie Stockdale described the victory as the highlight of his training career.
“It was magnificent,” Stockdale said.
“I can’t believe that he (Brandon) doesn’t get more rides, he rides as good as anyone and he proved that today.
“This win should hopefully kick him on a bit.”
Brandon Stockdale said it was a huge thrill to provide his father with a first metropolitan success.
“We’ve always had a high opinion of the filly but she hasn’t been able to reproduce on race day what she shows us in her gallops at home,” Stockdale said.
“I ended up getting shuffled a fair way back but that’s the way she likes to race, she’s got a great turn of foot and I ended up getting on the back of Beau Mertens (If Not Now When) and she was too strong.”
Unique Lovely ($6.50-$5.50) let down with an impressive finish from a midfield position to defeat the leader Miss Vesper ($16) by a length, with If Not Now When ($3.80-$4.80) a further neck away in third.
