Sydney trainer Joe Pride registered a two-state double with the stylish win of Ballistic Lover (4 m Smart Missile – She’s A Sweetheart by Show A Heart) in the Carlyon Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Moonee Valley coming just over two hours after Private Eye (4 g Al Maher – Confidential Queen by Shamardal) landed the Show Country Quality (Gr 3, 1200m) at Randwick.

Settling behind the speed set by Ancestry (The Brothers War) and Esta La Roca (El Roca), Ballistic Missile travelled sweetly under jockey Damian Lane and appeared to have the race in her keeping rounding the home turn.

Despite Esta La Roca putting up determined resistance, Ballistic Lover scored by a half-length from the Lloyd Kennewell-trained galloper with Miss Albania  (Magnus) in third place, a further two and three-quarter lengths away.

“She stalked the speed and I was the winner a long way out,” Lane said. “She’s got the scope to keep going up in grade. She’s building a great record and is going the right way about things. Considering she handled The Valley so well, there might be better races here for her.”

Article courtesy of ANZ Bloodstock News.