Aptly named Finishing Card claimed the final leg of the Swettenham Stud Summer Challenge in a three-way finish at Caulfield on Saturday.
Finishing Card (7g Platinum Scissors – Helen by Quest For Fame) edged out the favourite Limes and grey galloper Chase The Rainbow in the LR Equiano John Dillon Stakes (1400m). “It was his fourth run back from a spell and he was ready to spike,” trainer Clinton McDonald said. “I don’t work him too hard at home.”
The gelding finished top of the table after Heat 10 – he had collected 7 points when third to Decircles in Heat 9 on January 18.
Finishing Card was bred by Muzaffar Yaseen. The Teeley Assets owner also bred and raced his sire Platinum Scissors to a Group 1 victory in the 2002 AJC Spring Champion Stakes.
Platinum Scissors retired to Arrowfield Stud in 2004, however, his fertility was just 22%. Being a younger brother to Redoute’s Choice, he was given another chance and Finishing Card arrived in his second crop.
Unfortunately, his PPT strike-rate failed to rise above 64% at Plaintree Farm in Queensland and a decision was made to pension him in 2009.
Finishing Card is raced by John Bath, Graham Eccles, Russell Fynmore, Nick Hooper, Tony Mangan, Michael Sadler, Lorraine Smith, Shane Tap and Heike Truscott.
The final qualifying points for the $100,000 Swettenham Summer Challenge Final at Caulfield on February 1 follow;
17 Finishing Card
17 Amaethon
14 Anlon
14 Galileo Gold
13 Pillar of Creation
12 Final Jest
12 Bringenbrong
12 Free of Doubt
10 Infinite Energy
10 Decircles
10 Floatmyboat
10 Prince of Penzance
10 Oregon Spirit
10 The Wingman
10 Are There Any
8 Praesentia
8 Durnford
8 He’s Your Man
8 Too Deadly
8 Eraset
8 Vixen Hustler
8 Mandla
7 Mendivil
7 Road Trippin’
7 Quick Snitzel
7 Streets of Seattle
7 Text ‘n’ Hurley