The colours of Shelly Hancox’s Hancox Bloodstock were at the forefront again last weekend when Expertea won the BRC MEMBERSHIPS BenchMark 75 Handicap over 2200metres at Doomben on Saturday.

In a decent size field of fifteen runners Expertea jumped from gate nine and by the time they had passed the finishing post, jockey Ronnie Stewart got the mare up and going forward to sit in third position on the rail, a length behind leaders Anymore and Dazzle Us Again.  As they headed round the back Dazzle Us Again took up the lead from Anymore with Expetea sitting back, still in third spot and rolling along nicely for Stewart.  By the 1000metre mark not much had changed in the run with Dazzle Us Again still the front running leader and Expertea travelling along, however, by the 800 Stewart had moved the mare up to second spot sitting just of the hindquarters of the leader and looking like she was ready to unleash.  As they hit the 600metre mark Expertea, along with Mazaz, had joined Dazzle Us Again at the front to make a line of three and as they began to hit the turn for home Stewart gave the reins a shake and the mare took off.  At the 200 she was three lengths clear of the field and no one was going to catch her.  She passed the finishing post two lengths clear in a time of 2:17:94.

It was a wonderful win by the mare, who is in great form at the moment, chalking up her third win in eleven starts.  This makes it two wins in four days for Hancox Bloodstock with Johnny Whitesox getting up on Wednesday at Ipswich for trainer Chris Munce.

The 4year-old Al Maher mare is out of Chai a daughter of Viscount (AUS).

Her race records stands at 11:3-1-3

Congratulations to all owners and connections.

[Photos courtesy of Grant Peters, Trackside Photography]