It was a hot and sticky afternoon at Sale last week, but the conditions didn’t stop history from being made, with three track records smashed in a thrilling local racing program.
The new benchmarks were set over 1000, 1100 and 1200 metres, creating a memorable day for horses, jockeys, and trainers alike.
Training honours for the meeting went to Pakenham trainer Charlotte Littlefield, who prepared a winning double, while Teo Nugent rode three winners and Craig Newitt secured two victories.
The first record to fall was over 1100 metres, when debutant Yes Yoshi ($2), trained by Littlefield and ridden by Nugent, eclipsed a mark that had stood since 2002. On that day, another first starter, Don’t Tell Tell, won the first of his 11 career victories.
Littlefield quickly returned to the headlines in the next race, teaming with Brad Rawiller aboard Yes We Are ($2.05). The four-year-old gelding, in just his second win from five starts at Sale, broke the 1000-metre record previously held by Western Australian Group One winner Rey Magnerio, trained by Robbie Griffiths at Cranbourne. Rey Magnerio has accumulated 10 wins from 26 starts and stakes exceeding $2 million.
The final record of the afternoon came over 1200 metres, when three-year-old filly Torsheen ($2.70), prepared by the Mornington combination of Shane Nichols and ridden by Hayden Black, broke the benchmark set by local galloper Emjay Hussy in 2009. It was Torsheen’s second win from seven starts.
It’s rare enough to see a single track record fall, but three in one afternoon at Sale created a truly unforgettable day of racing.
