Punters post-race: Saturday racing in review, January 23 by James Lamb, Luke Sheehan & David Hocking Artorius dominated his rivals at Sandown Image: Getty
A Freedman-trained 2YO stole the show at Sandown, a Kiwi star enhanced her reputation even further, and we saw an all-time sick beat in Sydney. Star Performer
Levante in the Westbury Classic (Ellerslie R3)
Wins don t come much bigger than that of Levante s over the ditch at Ellerslie in the G2 Westbury Classic. The Ken Kelso-trained daughter of Proisir looked like she was in all sorts of bother at the 600m mark when dead-last in the 10-horse field, with plenty of lengths to make up and seemingly having hit a flat spot. But Collett then swung her out to the middle of the track upon straightening and asked Levante for the ultimate effort. It took a bit of riding to get her going but once she hit top gear the star Kiwi mare launched out of the ground to sweep past her rivals and score a surprisingly soft win
Winner shows courage with a capital âCâ Trainer Ricky Vale, jockey Ashley Butler with daughter Tahnae, Absolut Artie and Kale Sinclair. Photo: Tony McMahon.
Horses Tony McMahon
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While both the champion from the early â70s, Gunsynd, and current star Rockhampton horse Absolut Artie are incomparable on an achievement level, they both share a common thread - courage with a capital âCâ.
Gunsynd (gr g 1967 Sunset Hue -Woodie Wonder) was an elite thoroughbred, winning 29 races, many at GR 1 level, and is an Australian Hall of Fame racehorse inductee.
In 1973, the year he retired, the song
The Goondiwindi Grey was released about him and sung by Tex Morton.