Ashford Street has provided trainer Ken Elford with his most important victory with a stakes victory at Flemington.
While the win was nice, the race Elford would most like to capture is his hometown sprint during the Warrnambool May Carnival.
Ashford Street provided Elford with his first Flemington success when taking out the Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) on Saturday, but Warrnambool-based Elford said he was now likely to turn Ashford Street out for a break to concentrate on the Listed Wangoom Handicap (1200m) on the middle day of the May Carnival.
Ridden by Teo Nugent, Ashford Street ($11) registered a short-head win over Yulong Command ($5) with Colsridge ($21) a further 1-¼ lengths away third.
“The horse has taken me on a wonderful journey. I’m so pleased with him,” Elford said.
“He’ll probably have a break soon and go to the Wangoom. That’s the aim, to win the Wangoom.
“He’s good and sound and we look after him. He’s honest and he’s good to do anything with.
“He’s the best horse to come through my stable.”
Ashford Street registered wet track wins at Caulfield and Sandown during the year and had been forced to step up to higher company in recent starts.
Elford took the sprinter to Adelaide to contest the Listed City Of Marion Stakes on November 26, but the race did not go to plan.
“We brought him home, we said we’d give him three weeks and have a go at this one,” Elford said.
“We talked to Teo and said to try and be a little bit closer, a little bit more positive and he’s done it.”
Nugent has had a good association with Ashford Street with the sprinter providing the jockey his last city winner as an apprentice.
Prior to Saturday’s win, Ashford Street had not been successful on firm ground, but Nugent said he had given an indication of form at Cranbourne prior to his trip to Adelaide.
“He got a long way, but I really loved the way he found the line,” Nugent said.
“Unfortunately, I couldn’t partner him last start over in Adelaide, but I watched his replay, and he was very unlucky not to get a bit of clear running.
“He gave me my last ever winner as an apprentice and to come here and get a Listed winner at Flemington on him, is super special.
“He comes alive on a heavy track, so a race like the Wangoom is definitely in his grasp and I think he can continue to furnish.”