SUE GRILLS unveiled a promising young horse when Hammond Lane arrived late to beat the Pat Farrell-trained Gunboat Willy by a head in Saturday’s Skilled’s First Yearlings @2015 Sales Maiden Plate (1100m).
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Gunboat Willy appeared to have the race won but Hammond Lane, with stable apprentice Sophie Young aboard, steamed over top of the Pat Farrell-trained gelding for an impressive win on debut.
“He just did everything right,” Young said of a 40-1 debutante.
“He travelled so well. Took a little while to settle down.”
But when he launched he showed some of the speed Sue Grills had witnessed in track work.
“He’s got a lot of ability, and is a lovely horse,” Grills said of the three-year-old son of Dreamscape.
“Still a big baby but a beautiful horse. That was a super win.”
She said once he learns to jump and run he will be an even better racer.
She trains Hammond Lane for long time clients Bindi and Paul Frampton.
“Paul bred him,” Grills said.
“It was so good to win like that for them. Pity he’s not here today.”
She had three runners at Scone and thought all three were good each way chances.
Couperin disappointed when 12th to Ode To Caitlin in the $20,000 Dream Ahead Emirates Park Benchmark 60 Handicap (1600m).
Unique Shadow then finished fifth Prince Manitou in the So Yo Think Yearlings Class 1 Handicap (1300m).
However, it could not dampen the big smile for Grills’ apprentice Young.
“She’s had a big two days, a treble at Quirindi and a winner here (Hammond Lane),” Grills said.
The four winners also kicked her above Vad Bolozhinksyi in the Hunter and North West Racing Association apprentices Premiership.
She zoomed up to 16 winners for the season, one ahead of Bolozhinskyi and another win ahead of Sam Clenton.
Hammond Lane’s win also kept Grills in third place on the HNWRA trainers premiership, five behind Luke Griffith (24) with Paul Perry (21) second.
