Gold Coast trainer John Morrisey left Eagle Farm with two winners but it was the future not the present occupying his thoughts.The multiple Group One winner prepared lightly-raced gallopers Oigles and My Request to win consecutive races and it was the former giving him reason to dream of winter carnival success.A $50,000 purchase at Karaka, Oigles made light work of his opposition in the Ascot Bar Maiden (1400m) at his second race start and Morrisey plans to give the Bertolini gelding one more r
Gold Coast trainer John Morrisey left Eagle Farm with two winners but it was the future not the present occupying his thoughts.
The multiple Group One winner prepared lightly-raced gallopers Oigles and My Request to win consecutive races and it was the former giving him reason to dream of winter carnival success.
A $50,000 purchase at Karaka, Oigles made light work of his opposition in the Ascot Bar Maiden (1400m) at his second race start and Morrisey plans to give the Bertolini gelding one more run this preparation before preparing him for next year's Brisbane winter carnival.
Morrisey scored an upset win in this year's Group One TJ Smith with Rockdale to add to the two Queensland Derby trophies he collected with Lachlan River and Camarena and is hopeful Oigles can make the grade next year.
"He can have another run this time in before I tip him out and get him back and hopefully he will measure up to a winter carnival horse," Morrisey said.
"The penny hasn't dropped with him yet. He wasn't properly educated but he'll only need about a month off.
"He may not be good enough but he's only three and they can improve quickly with experience and a spell."
Perfectly ridden by Dan Griffin, Oigles ($6) proved adept on the slow surface when he overpowered Brokacanon ($26) in the straight to score by three-quarters of a length.
Young Prince battled on to finish a short half-head away third while the well-supported Mr Nicholas ($2.40 fav) only plugged to finish a well-beaten fifth.
Morrisey returned to the winner's circle after the next event when Belong To Me mare My Request scored narrowly in the Christmas Party Day 13/12 Maiden (1400m).
My Request ($2.30 fav) provided in-form hoop Christian Reith with the first leg of a winning double when she justified her short quote with a short half-head win over Smartness ($2.70) with ($21) Silver Tin four lengths back third.
Reith racked up the double when he piloted the Kelly Schweida-trained Justin Case to victory over Spin Zero and Latin Idol in The Laboratory Hcp (1800m).
Earlier, connections were rewarded for their persistence when dour stayer Don Vito finally broke his duck in the Past The Post Maiden Plate (2242m).
Don Vito had been a source of frustration for his connections but winning trainer Tony Sears always maintained the Reenact gelding could make into a handy distance performer.
Having his 10th start, Don Vito ($2.30 fav) relaxed beautifully at the tail of the seven-horse field and ploughed through the slow conditions in the straight to score a long neck win over Jouer Le Jeu ($8.50) with Tyrconnell ($7) 1-1/4 lengths away third.
Don Vito had been consistent this campaign with three placings from his past six starts and Sears said he believed he would be even better suited when stepped up to further distances.