Renowned West Australian horsewoman Quona Cooke notched a career first at Belmont today when she saddled up a winning double.
Howbadisthat scored an impressive first up win in the Willoughby Maiden (1200m) and then stablemate Sound System made it a double when he cruised home in the Westspeed Handicap (1000m) in the very next event.
Cooke, who prepares a team at Carinya Park in Upper Swan, is best known for preparing young horses prior to export to countries including Malaysia and Singapore.
She is a regular visitor to the winning stall at tracks around the state, but today achieved a remarkable first.
“I’d never even taken more than one horse to a city meeting before,” a delighted Cooke said.
“So to take two to the races and have them both win is a great thrill,” she added.
Cooke is a long time client of Magic Millions and purchased both of today’s winners from a Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
Howbadisthat, a four-year-old gelded son of Dash for Cash, was purchased for $40,000 from the Three Bridges Thoroughbreds draft at the 2008 Adelaide Yearling Sale.
With comeback apprentice Duncan Miller in the saddle, Howbadisthat ($21) came with a strong burst in the straight to reel in the favourite Amberstroem ($2.80) and race away to win by a length.
“He’s had his share of problems and I’ve had to be very patient with him.”
“He’s never been pushed and we never push our horses. I’ve still got five unraced four-year-olds at home – if they need time that’s what they get.”
Cooke feels that Howbadisthat had a nice future and should be winning again soon and Miller agrees.
“He is a nice horse and is still learning,” Miller commented. “I think he can go on with it from here.”
The milestone double for the stable was achieved just over half an hour later when the promising three-year-old Sound System made it back to back city wins.
A son of Stromberg Carlson, Sound System was purchased for just $10,000 from the draft of Raheen Stud at the 2009 Magic Millions QTIS 600 Yearling Sale.
“I’m never in a rush to send my horses to Saturday races, but I might head that way with this bloke now.”
“He’s done a good job and won his past two races well. He shows a lot of fight – I quite like him.”
Lucas Camilleri, the winning rider of Sound System, said the promising youngster would continue to improve.
“He wanted to star gaze a little once he hit the front,” he commented. “But I got stuck into him again and he was never going to lose.”
“He is continuing to improve with each outing.”
