Brad Widdup has finally unlocked the winning formula with Lagarde as the Hawkesbury trainer enjoyed a winning double at Kembla Grange on Tuesday.
Lagarde had placed nine times in 11 starts before finally breaking through at Orange earlier this preparation and repeated the performance with another tough front-running effort to win the Duck Creek Dash Class 1 Handicap (1000m).
Jockey Sam Clipperton found the front from the inside draw and fought off the challenge of Godolphin’s Ariege ($1.80) to score by a length, with Starry 2-1/2 lengths away in third.
"She is very honest," Widdup told Sky Thoroughbred Central. "I have thrown her in the deep end a couple of times. She ran a great race in the Magic Millions Maiden and then we took her to Orange and she won. The 1000m [suits] and we freshened her up. She seems to respond to that."
It was the second time in the first three races that a Widdup runner had gunned down an odds-on favourite.
Stablemate Cry Of Achilles ($3.10), ridden by Christian Reith, consigned the Gwenda Markwell trained Speed And Style ($1.90) to a fifth consecutive runner-up finish to take out the Illawarra Turf Club Provincial and Country Maiden Handicap (1200m).
"It was a great ride," Widdup said. "We had things go our way and it was great that he stuck is head out."
Reith finished with a double for the day when he piloted Elaborate to a dominant three length victory for co-trainers Richard and Michael Freedman.
Robert and Luke Price ensured the locals didn't go empty-handed after Budderoo Knight bounced back to form in the Tatana Pty Ld Conditional Benchmark 70 Handicap (1400m).
The Pendragon seven-year-old has now won three of his four starts at Kembla.
Racing returns to the Illawarra Turf Club next Tuesday, May 21.
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