Jockey Darryl McLellan will attempt to add to the winning record of talented mare Villa Treville when she lines up in the Artorius Standing At Newgate Benchmark 82 Handicap (1000m) at Scone.
Trained by Stephen Jones, Villa Treville has had seven starts for five wins, the latest of them at Newcastle with McLellan in the saddle. Her previous victories had been for jockeys Andrew Gibbons, Aaron Bullock (twice) and Millie Thompson.
Darryl McLellan.Credit: Getty
“She’s definitely a pretty handy mare that shows plenty of talent and is at the top of her game,” said McLellan. “We led them up at Newcastle and she held on well to score a good win and beat a decent horse [Curl Curl] in the process.”
Villa Treville has drawn a wide alley in her Scone event, but McLellan doesn’t think that will pose a problem.
“She has plenty of tactical speed and she’ll push forward which is her natural place to be,” McLellan said. “The 1000m should suit as she’s won four over that distance, as well as the win over 900m at her latest start. She should take plenty of running down.”
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McLellan rode a winning double at Taree on Sunday, and has four other rides at Scone on Tuesday in the shape of Tiannah in the Vinery’s Hawaii Five Oh Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1000m) for trainer Allan Boyle, Herne Hill in the Widden Stud Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Handicap (1300m) and Vandelight in the Pryde’s Easifeed Energy Pak Class 1 Handicap (900m) for trainers Justin and Jam Bowen respectively.
His remaining mount is the Kris Lees prepared Lady Townson in the Hitotsu At Arrowfield Benchmark 66 Handicap (1700m).
Blake Spriggs has a couple of key rides at Scone for trainer Matthew Smith, including last start Goulburn winner Scalextrics, which lines up against Lady Townson. He will also partner the talented Flying Rani when she goes up alongside Villa Treville. Flying Rani is resuming from a spell and was a Gosford winner at her first preparation.