Terang trainer Jamie Barry broke a six-month drought in satisfying style when grey mare Frosty Night scored at Hamilton last Saturday.
Barry had saddled up 34 starters without success since Frosty Night’s win in the 1400-metre benchmark 66 on her home track on April 12.
Last Saturday’s win in the Halo Racing Colin McKenna Memorial 0-56 handicap saw the Frosted mare start at the same price ($21) under the same jockey (Amy Herrmann) over the same trip.
She came from midfield to score by a long neck from the Patrick Ryan-trained Sotomayor ($4.40), with Smiley Chan-trained $4.20 favourite Youarenotalone third.
Barry said he was thrilled the drought was over.
“I’m just glad we’ve had another winner,” he said. “It makes all the early mornings worthwhile. 
“Training horses is a tough job but I love it. Horses are in my blood. 
“I’ve only got the four in work and it’s really hard to win when Melbourne trainers are sending horses down to the country meetings. You’re taking on highly priced horses that have failed to measure up in Melbourne.”
Frosty Night, who entered Barry’s stable as an unraced two-year-old, has gone on to win four races from 41 starts for earnings of $112,285.
“She’s a lovely natured mare,” Barry said. 
“She’s put in a couple of ordinary runs over her career but that’s because she doesn’t like wet tracks. 
“I’ll sit down and have a look at the calendar over the next few days to work where she runs next. Her rating’s not high so we’ve got to have another run in the country and with a bit of luck she’ll be competitive again. 
“I’d love to think she might run in a midweek (city) mares race at some stage.”
Bans aplenty
Saturday’s Hamilton Cup meeting was a busy one for the stewards, with no fewer that five suspensions handed out.
Teo Nugent, Nadia Daniels, Amy Herrmann and Kate Walters pleaded guilty to careless riding and copped 10-meeting bans, while Jack Hill was rubbed out for eight meetings over a whip infringement.
Bull hooks the cup
Geelong-based Lindsey Smith and Stawell’s Andrew Bobbin shared training honours at the Hamilton Cup meeting with a double apiece on the eight-race program. Smith won with Hank Honk and It’s A Yes, Bobbin with Accuser and Rich Champagne. 
Eoin Walsh landed some good bets on Raging Bull ($13-$9.50) in the $65,000 Hamilton Cup (2200m) for Bendigo trainer Arthur Pace.