TELEPLAY resumed from a spell at Ballarat on Friday for Caulfield trainer Mick Price and rider Michael Dee and the lightly raced 4yo mare was in a different class to her opposition, when she strolled around under hands and heels with less effort than she would give in morning trackwork, to win the Hygain Winners Choice Fillies and Mares Benchmark 70 Handicap.
Teleplay was eased down to score by 1.5 lengths over Caribbean Pearl with a further 1.75 lengths back to Duecourse in third.
We have always had a huge opinion of Teleplay who now has a record of:
4 starts: 2 wins, 1 second, 1 third and has taken her earnings to $74,550.
Last preparation, she won on debut at Kilmore before coming to Moonee Valley second up in the VOBIS Gold Carat finishing 3rd beaten 0.4 lengths to Bel Sonic and then, at her third start she had little racing luck when 0.75 length 2nd at Caulfield to Magnesium Rose.
Sent for a spell after that to aim at some black-type races upon her return in the Autumn, she was ready to race when we discovered she was making a breathing noise and was subsequently found to have an entrapped epiglottis requiring minor throat surgery.
Another short break and back into work had resulted in 10 months passing between runs but during that time, the mare matured exceptionally well and connections have been thrilled with her progress.
Teleplay had been given two easy jump outs to prepare for this first up assignment and trainer Mick Price was extremely confident she would be winning this assignment.
There was a specific reason she went to Ballarat in a Benchmark 70.
Leading into the carnival, we were concerned as a Benchmark 64 horse, her rating was not high enough to be included in some stakes races so we went to Ballarat to win, with the view of raising her rating score with an eye on future stakes races - mission accomplished.
On Thursday afternoon, there was as much as $2.75 on offer and she was backed on every call to start a dominant $1.60 favourite and never gave her supporters any concerns.
A mare who likes to get back in her races and then reel off impressive sectionals, Teleplay was allowed to follow this same pattern at Ballarat by Michael Dee.
Jumping away cleanly, Michael kept a strong hold on Teleplay allowing her to get back in the field with cover, on the Good 4 surface.
The duo stayed in this position until the field swung for home. Upon straightening there was a wall of horses across the track with nowhere to go.
So Michael patiently waited to switch across the heels of those in front and had to come out 5 horses wide to reach the centre of the track at the 300m.
Spotting the leader a couple of lengths, Michael Dee released the brakes and under simple hands and heels, Teleplay swooped down the outside and captured the lead at the 150m and then, with the job done, was allowed to wind down in the run to the line to record a soft and widening 1.5 length victory.
It was so impressive and Michael was kind on her early and he rode like she was the best horse in the race.
Michael knew there was genuine speed in this event and he just waited to pick the opposition apart. He eased to the outside and let her go through her gears and from the 300m to the 100m, it was a beautiful ride. Michael at no stage need the whip because he didn’t need too, such was the motor he had underneath him.
Simply it was a working gallop for a mare that was capable of a lot better class than today. There is a lot of upside to this mare.
Upon returning to scale Michael Dee said: “Throughout the run I was never worried. I knew coming here today she was in good order, she trialled up well before this. I knew were every other horse was going to be in the run and she was going to be winning either way.
“Obviously they crossed me early and she relaxed. I was travelling as good as any coming onto the corner and then just wanted to get out to the best part of the track and the win was comfortable in the end.”
Congratulations to the Dynamic Team of Owners that race TELEPLAY: Dynamic Syndications Racing, Mrs B J Zions, Mr R Bau, Mr T J Gore, Mr NR Evans, Mr P J Pollard, Ms J Mariani, Mr G Georgiou, Mr W J Noonan, Mr D T Warburton, Mr S J Brereton, Mr G B Medved, Mr R A Elliott, C J R Racing, Matrix Racing, Mr S Najda, Mr D W Watt and Mr M A Wallace.