Phenomenal Lass has given Paul Murray something to smile about with her slashing win at Canterbury after what has been a difficult few days since the Caulfield Cup for the Kembla Grange trainer.Ridden by apprentice Nathan Berry, Phenomenal Lass ($16) led all the way to defeat No Evidence Needed ($19) by three-quarters of a length in Wednesday's Jim Beam Shed On Sale Handicap (1250m).The week started badly for Murray whose stable star, beaten Caulfield Cup favourite Predatory Pricer, was ruled ou
Phenomenal Lass has given Paul Murray something to smile about with her slashing win at Canterbury after what has been a difficult few days since the Caulfield Cup for the Kembla Grange trainer.
Ridden by apprentice Nathan Berry, Phenomenal Lass ($16) led all the way to defeat No Evidence Needed ($19) by three-quarters of a length in Wednesday's Jim Beam Shed On Sale Handicap (1250m).
The week started badly for Murray whose stable star, beaten Caulfield Cup favourite Predatory Pricer, was ruled out for the spring with a tendon injury after finishing a long way back in Saturday's race.
However, Murray said the situation was looking more promising for Predatory Pricer.
"My vets went over him this morning and they reckon it's all good with him and he'll be back for the autumn and we could go for races like the Doncaster," Murray said.
"He'll have more scans at the Camden Uni next week, he has to get a clearance from the vets in Ballarat.
"It's a funny game. Last week I had the Caulfield Cup favourite and I was having a great time in Melbourne and then all of a sudden the horse is injured and out of action but it's great for everyone in the stable to see Phenomenal Lass win today."
The victory by Phenomenal Lass was her first since December last year.
She campaigned unsuccessfully in Melbourne last month when she had two unplaced runs.
"She ran into wet tracks in Melbourne, all she needs is dry tracks and she'll do the rest, she got one today and she ran very well," Murray said.
"We'll try and find another race for her but just what I'm not sure at this stage."
Phenomenal Lass was a boom two-year-old, winning her first two starts in very impressive fashion on good tracks.
But a slow surface in the Widden Stakes resulted in her being unplaced in the Listed race in February before she found a good track at her next start in Canberra where she finished second to Delago Bolt in the Black Opal Stakes.
Meanwhile, classy mare Halleys continues to benefit from the patient approach of her master trainer Bart Cummings.
Halleys clipped heels and fell at Randwick in May and stable representative James Cummings, Bart Cummings' grandson, said it took a while for the mare to regain her confidence.
"She was very timid when she came to the trials but the patience of the boss has been the key to getting her back," Cummings said.
"It certainly was a confidence thing with her and now she's got it we can push ahead with her.
"She's a real horse of the future."