Denoninator adds to tally at Eagle Farm

Co-trainer John Symons has paid tribute to injured apprentice Sarah Eilbeck after Denoninator added to his winning tally at Eagle Farm.

Ridden by Jeff Lloyd, Denoninator edged clear in the final 100m of the Rawgroup Hospitality Handicap (2212m) on Saturday to win by a length.

Symons, who trains a team of 16 horses on the Sunshine Coast with Sheila Laxon, said Eilbeck would’ve been in the running to ride Denoninator, the $2.40 favourite, had she not suffered a back injury.

“Sarah was riding one in trackwork last week when she came off and even though it looked harmless enough she ended up with a fractured vertebrae in her lower back,” Symons said.

“It’s unfortunate for her because she’s put in a lot of hours work with this horse and deserves plenty of credit for getting him to race as well as he is.”

Lloyd rode five winners at Eagle Farm last Saturday and celebrated that achievement by spending a few days of rest and recreation with his family in Fiji during the week.

Lloyd said Denoninator was an emerging talent.

“He’s the sort of stayer who is good enough to win at a mile if trained for it because he’s got a good turn of foot,” he said.

“At the moment he’s inclined to stargaze when he hits the front but I think he’s a nice stayer in the making.”