Reward For Efforts Gold Symphony Captures National Sprint

A perfect ride by Kerrin McEvoy earned the Reward For Effort gelding Gold Symphony a third stakes win Sunday's $130,000 Casino Canberra National Sprint (1400m) at Canberra Racetrack.

While Gold Symphony enjoyed the run of the race the topweight Happy Clapper (Teofilo) endured a torrid run after missing the start.

He was forced to race three and four wide before being pushed seven wide on the home turn.

The Villiers Stakes winner and Doncaster Mile runner-up charge home to be beaten with the favourite Handfast (Street Cry) back in third.

Winner of the Group III Vain Stakes and Group III McNeil Stakes, both at Caulfield, at three, Gold Symphony was coming off a second to the highly regarded Antonio Giuseppe at Rosehill at his most recent start.

The Triple Crown Syndications colour-bearer became the first stakes winner for Reward For Effort when he captured the Vain Stakes back in August 2015 when trained by Peter Moody.

With a record of 5 wins, 2 seconds and 1 thirds from 17 starts with earnings of $417,500, he has been a grand money-spinner for his army of owners.

It was good to see the horse win, he has been running quite well of late," Paul Snowden said.

"He was afforded a lovely ride by Macca, the speed was on most of the way and he had them in his sights heading for home and it was matter of if or when.

"We've had it in our minds to give him a little break and head north in the winter with him.

"He is a very good wet tracker. He works like it he's on good three when it is wet at home.

"That's his asset at the moment but to tick a few boxes along the way it gives us a great deal of confidence in him going forward."

A $100,000 purchase by Triple Crown Syndications from the draft of Grange Thoroughbreds at the 2014 Inglis Premier Yearling sale, Gold Symphony is the first foal of the unraced Stravinsky mare Tzaress a half-sister to Group III AJC Sweet Embrace winner Stripper (Danehill Dancer) who was narrowly beaten by Duporth in the 2008 Golden Rose.

Granddam Charming Belle (Imposing) is a half-sister to multiple Group II winner Delightful Belle, the dam of Golden Slipper and Newmarket Handicap winner Belle du Jour (Dehere) and to the dam of Group 1 Goodwood Handicap winner Perfectly Ready (More Than Ready).

Tzaress has been a regular visitor to Reward For Effort having being covered by the Group I Blue Diamond Stakes winner in her first five seasons at stud before being covered by the champion Fastnet Rock last spring.

She has an unraced 2yo colt named Tony's Reward and a yearling colt by Reward For Effort.