Trainor triumphant in Ladyship Mile

By Adam Hamilton

Who said this Miracle Mile Carnival was lacking Kiwi flavour?

Emerging young Kiwi driver Jack Trainor and star mare Stylish Memphis changed all that.

Trainor snared his first Group 1 win when he teamed with Stylish Memphis for a barnstorming and richly deserved win in the $200,000 Group 1 Ladyship Mile at Menangle last night.

The win came after Stylish Memphis’ monstrous fourth in last week’s Chariots Of Fire and booked her a spot in next week’s $1 million Miracle Mile.

Trainor hardly had time to soak-up the Ladyship win before jumping back in the sulky and winning his second Group 1 just 30 minutes later aboard David Thorn’s brilliant filly Anntonia in the $200,000 NSW Oaks.

“I won’t forget this night in a like time and I’ll probably wake up with a hangover,” Trainor said.

“I thought both had great winning chances coming her tonight, but to win both the big ones is just amazing, unbelievable really.”

Stylish Memphis settled a tad closer than she did in the Chariots a week earlier and ripped home in stunning splits out four and five win to by 2.6m over Victorian outsider Miss McGonagall with Bettor Enforce third.

“Gee she deserved that. I’ve never driven a horse go as good as she did last week and only run fourth,” Trainor said.

“My one worry was whether she had another big run in her, but she was great through the week. All she’d done since she’s been here is back-up, but she’s thrived on it. She’s actually put weight on.”

Credit goes to Kiwi trainer Mark Jones who dared to send Stylish Memphis to Sydney when so many others felt it was too hard.

“I’ve really got to thank Mark Jones and owner Wayne Higgs for not only giving me the drive but entrusting me to look after her for them,” Trainor said.

“I’ve had some success over here, but horses like her and moments like these change your career.”

Stylish Memphis luck ran out in the Miracle Mile barrier draw when she drew he outside, meaning she’ll almost certainly settle last and need a miracle.

Trainor’s gratitude continued for Thorn after the fast-finishing and dominant Oaks win of Anntonia.

“David’s been one of my biggest supporters since I moved to Sydney so to repay him and win a big race like is really special,” Trainor said.

“I love this filly. She’s got so much speed and I didn’t get the chance to drive her that way in the heat, but when she saw daylight after he run she’d had, you saw tonight what I mean about her speed.”

Anntonia surged clear to beat three Emma Stewart-trained fillies, headed by the improving Rogue Wave who ran a fantastic second.

Hot favourite Tough Tilly had everything go wrong in the run and still ran a brave fourth.

“What a horrible race it turned out to be for me. She did a mighty job to finish as close as she did,” driver Luke McCarthy said.