Scone gelding Rematch timed his run to perfection at Rosehill last Saturday.
Race three, the 1500-metre Class 3 TAB Highway Plate, was raced late enough in the day for the track to be retrospectively downgraded to a heavy 8, but early enough that it was run before the meeting was called off an hour and a half later.
The Paul Messara/Leah Gavranich-trained Rematch ($4.20 favourite) had a solid record on soft tracks but had failed at his only previous try on heavy. This time, however, he relished it.
Jockey Aaron Bullock settled the four-year-old just off the pace before taking him to the centre of the track in the straight to make his run.
Rematch took the lead from One Beat No Beat approaching the 200-metre mark but that galloper refused to give in, fighting back strongly on the inside to be beaten just a short neck on the line.
Associate, who had settled well back in the field, finished the race off strongly to claim third place, a further two lengths away.
“Credit to the horse,” Bullock said. “Every time I gave him a squeeze, he kept coming up under me.
“You definitely need horses that can handle wet tracks in these conditions because a lot of them don’t get through it. He did.
“It’s tough going out there but it is what it is and we have to deal with what we’ve got and get the job done.”
Rematch had won a Highway race at the metro-class Newcastle meeting on Hunter day last November, and co-trainer Gavranich was pleased he’d nabbed a second.
“It probably turned into a little bit of a survival of the fittest,” she said.
“Aaron gave him a beautiful ride from the draw, used the gate and he travelled comfortably.
“Before the turn he was just angling out to get him in the clear and he obviously had a lapful of horse.
“He toughed it out well and deserved another Highway win.”
Saturday’s win took Rematch’s record to four wins and six placings from 12 starts, for $202,475 in earnings.
Sky snares home cup
Local trainer Allan Prisk was the toast of Cobar last Saturday night after snagging two races at the club’s cup meeting including the 1700-metre feature with Dancing In The Sky ($8).
The five-year-old was ridden by Nyssa Burrells, as was Prisk’s earlier winner, Mr Pointer ($4) in a 1000-metre benchmark 58.
Georgina McDonnell also rode a double at the meeting, while Dubbo’s Connie Greig trained two winners.
Around the traps
One to follow through the winter bobbed up at Coffs Harbour last Friday.
On a track rated a heavy 10, the Sally Taylor-trained local four-year-old Mindspace ($6), ridden by Luke Rolls, raced away to record a 5½-length win in the 2005-metre benchmark 74.
At Wagga the same afternoon, Danny Beasley rode a winning treble.
Apprentice Coriah Keatings has struck form over the past week or so with winners at Wellington’s Thursday meeting, Wagga Friday and Goulburn Monday to go with a double on the Acton track at Canberra on Saturday.
Smith, Jones appeal
Kembla Grange trainer Ben Smith has appealed against a 13-month suspension he copped last week following a stewards’ inquiry into an analyst’s findings about a pre-race blood sample taken from the Smith-trained mare Arala prior to her winning at Canterbury on February 2.
The analyst also found prohibited substances in a urine sample provided by Smith at his stables on April 4.
Meanwhile, Scone trainer Stephen Jones has been allowed to continue training pending his appeal against a 3½-year disqualification imposed in April.
Jones was banned after being found guilty of 18 of 21 charges over raceday treatments of horses with a history of bleeding.
Since the suspension was handed down the Jones stable has been in fine form, chalking up eight wins in the interim.
Coming up
Highlight of Friday’s racing at Dubbo is the $40,000 Silver Goblet (1100m) for two-year-olds, with a $50,000 Super Maiden to be run over 1300 metres.
On Saturday the picnic circuit heads north for Mallawa Cup day, with the main race over 1400 metres and the Mallawa Bracelet over 1000 metres.
Sunday at Taree features the 1600-metre Wingham Cup, supported by the Corey Brown Cup.
Brown grew up in the area and went on to become one of Australia’s great jockeys, riding 49 Group 1 winners including two Melbourne Cup winners before injury forced his premature retirement.
“Corey was only recently inducted into the Manning Valley Sporting Hall of Fame, which is recognition for his contribution to the local region and the racing industry,” said Manning Valley Race Club CEO Damien Toose.
It’s also cup day at the Gulgong non-TABs on Sunday, with the feature over 1200 metres.