Winning Horse: Air Defence (Aus)

3yoG Stryker (Aus) - Jomar Star (Aus)(Johannesburg (USA))

6 starts - 2 wins 1 second 1 third $136885

Other Wins

1st Kilmore Steph Ryan For Euroa Mdn Plate 1600m (2020)

Other Placings

3rd Bendigo The Big Screen Company (Bm64) 1300m (2021)

2nd Swan Hill Busbiz Mdn Plate 1300m (2020)

Race Result:

1st: Air Defence (Teo Nugent/Shane Fliedner) - $31

2nd: Real Sensation (Billy Egan/Luke Oliver) - $5.50
3rd: Saltpeter (William Pike/John Moloney) - $9

Winning Time: 1:40.89 Last 600m: 40.43

Margins: Nose x Short Head

Winning Trainer: Shane Fliedner

“I said to Teo that its a good race but with his racing pattern it might suit him. I said to make the 200 (metre mark) the winning post and see what happens.

“He’s a tough horse second-up over a mile but his run at Bendigo was great and he’s just progressed from last time in so I was happy. He loves the wet and I was praying for that.

“He’s a nice horse.

“Last five runners, five winners. I can’t complain.”

Winning Jockey: Teo Nugent

“I was getting really weary near the line. I was quite confident 50 (metres) out that we had it, but gee it was a slog all the way up the straight..”

Tactics to be in front 200m out: “They were the plans today. I know this horse loves a wet track. He won his maiden on a soft track at Kilmore and he’s pretty lightly-raced this bloke.

“He’s got a good opportunity underneath him. Everytime he goes to the races he always benefits a little bit more.

“I rode him last start at Bendigo, albeit it was a benchmark 64, but he blew up in the last little bit.

“Shane and his team are going pretty well. I reckon Shane has trained a winner with his last five runners.

“The horse began very well from the gates, we had able to sit outside Jamie (Kah) on Gai’s horse (Narvaez). It’s always great when you have a runner of Gai’s in the race, they put a bit of speed in there.

“I’ve ridden a bit for her over the time and she would have been cursing at the 400 (metres).

“Like I said it was a slog to the finish, but Shane brought the horse here in perfect condition and we got the job done.”