Arthur Pace looks to have an untapped talent on his hands, with Colsridge producing an impressive first-up win at Kyneton Monday.
It was the lightly raced five-year-old’s second win from five runs to date.
He finished off last preparation with some solid efforts in town at Sandown, but looked to have gained maturity when he returned this week.
After settling more tractably in the back half of the field, Colsridge ($3.70) produced an eye-catching turn of foot late to win from a seemingly difficult position.
It was the first time jockey Dean Holland had been aboard the horse since his maiden romp on Mildura Cup day and Holland was full of praise post-race. 
“He’s a decent horse, this bloke”. Holland said.
It was hard to make ground at Kyneton on Monday, but Holland rode the horse to his strengths.
“They’re not making ground (today) like he did. I just rode the horse and not the track.”
Pace only has a small team but looks to have an above-average galloper on his hands.
He’ll be looking to set his sights a little higher now, with Colsridge likely to improve as he gets up in distance and on to bigger tracks.
Hi honour
Shane Fliedner’s Hi Stranger was named Bendigo’s horse of the year at last Saturday night’s function at the Silks event centre at the Bendigo Jockey Club.
His victory in the Echuca Cup in March was the highlight of a season that saw the Zoffany gelding win races at Bendigo and The Valley as well as placing at Flemington (twice) and Caulfield.
Now five, Hi Stranger is already well on the way to defending his title, having won the listed Kilmore Cup and an open handicap at Caulfield this season as well as running fourth in the Group 3 Chatham Stakes.
He was also named Bendigo’s champion sprinter of 2020/21.
Other category winners last Saturday night included Vungers (middle distance), Air Defence (three-year-old), Queen Guinevere (stayer) and Mutapa (picnics).
Fliedner was named Bendigo’s premier trainer with 14 winners at a strike rate of 16.67 per cent.
Stranger switch
Shane Fliedner has decided to stay in Victoria with last-start Kilmore Cup winner Hi Stranger.
The plan had been to take the gelding to Sydney for the Group 2 Villiers Stakes on December 11.
However, Fliedner has decided this Saturday’s open 1600-metre handicap on the Pakenham Cup card will be a better option. 
The gelding’s rating of 101 will have him carrying top weight.
 His next goal remains the same, with Fliedner believing Hi Stranger will be well suited in the listed Lord Stakes over 1700 metres at Caulfield on Boxing Day.

Old marvel makes it eight
Brian and Ashley McKnight’s evergreen eight-year-old Hot Seat registered his eighth win at Ararat on Tuesday.
Known more as a sprinter earlier in his career, the gelding has appreciated rising in distance at his most recent starts, with placings at Horsham and Kyneton leading in.
Christine Puls got away with good fractions in the lead and the Starcraft gelding gave a strong kick to lead all the way in the Ararat Farm Supplies BM58 Handicap (1600m).
Ashley McKnight said he was proud of his old horse.
“It’s been a great journey. He’s such a unique animal” McKnight said.
Hot Seat was a city winner at Sandown early in his career, but a wind operation stopped him from reaching his full potential.
Despite this, the horse has given his all over seven seasons for the stable.
“Apart from a wind operation he’s been sound. You can’t fault that fella,” McKnight said.
Tuesday’s win at $5.50 edged his career earnings towards the $200,000 mark and he is a horse everybody would love to own.