HORSE RACING

SHANE Nichols’ two-year-old filly Blonde Venture clung on to dead-heat in Sunday’s Magic Millions Tasmania 2YO Classic at Launceston.

Despite running unplaced on debut at Pakenham earlier this month, Mornington-based trainer Shane Nichols took the chance with the Capitalist filly and shipped the youngster down south to target the $75,000 juvenile race.

Handling the journey with flying colours, Blonde Venture scooted clear in the straight and looked to have the win in her sights before a late dive by the Adam Trinder-trained Jaguar Stone made things interesting. Turning to the photo finish, the final result was declared as a dead-heat.

Shane Nichols, who has had success with his young fillies heading to Tassie in the past, was thrilled with the way Blonde Venture handled the trip.

“It’s a big trip for them. She went over Thursday on the boat with eight others. You can’t send anyone with them as you can’t have anyone down in the hull after they close the doors. The horses are just down there on their own,” Nichols said.

“To go there and handle it really well as she did was great to see. She ate and drank really well and duly won.”

Nichols said he was more relieved than anything to cling on for a win, albeit as a dead-heat.

“She probably had the race won easily and just with the lack of race experience, she just pricked her ears and started to pull up,” Nichols said. “She thought the job was done.”

“It was a relief not to get rolled but it would have been nice to have the win on her own but she’s a nice filly. She’ll get better – there’s more improvement left in her.”

Blonde Venture is due to arrive back at Nichols’ stables on Monday night and may even be headed for another road trip to the $200,000 Adelaide Magic Millions in a couple weeks’ time.

First published in the Mornington News – 22 February 2022