HOT Enough looked like she’d “blown it after two metres” but recovered to win yesterday’s McDonald’s Armidale Maiden (1100m) in sizzling fashion.
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The Mark Mason-trained filly missed the jump by two or three lengths and was a distinct last after they’d left the barriers but was able to mow down her opponents and notch a half head win from 4-1 equal favourite Bay Of Olympus.
“It was a huge win,” Mason agreed.
“I thought she’d blown it after they’d gone two metres.
“But Luke (Cumberland) didn’t panic – he saved ground on the inside.
“He rode her well – made gradual ground and that was it.”
Cumberland said the plan was to be “up there” but was delighted a bit of room opened up on the fence for him to move forward along the rails.
“She had a bit of room – it all worked out well in the end,” he said.
Cumberland then extricated the three-year-old daughter of Dubleo from the fence and moved out to swamp Bay Of Olympus for a short half head win.
“That might have been a confidence boost for her,” Cumberland said.
She gave him victories in the first two races of the day after he partnered the Paul Messara-trained Valyrian Steel to a good win in the Tooheys New Class 1 Handicap (1100m).
He led all the way on the three-year-old bay colt.
“He wanted to hang out around the turn,” Cumberland said.
“He’s still a colt and can only improve on that.”
Stable foreman Leah Gavranich was delighted to see the son of Redoute’s Choice “get the job done”.
“We might stick him out now and geld him,” she said.
“He’s not as honest as he should be.”
She said he’s an “active colt”.
“We can gallop him one day and the next he’s bucking his brand off,” she added.
While Cumberland rode the first leg of his winning double for Mason, the Tamworth trainer then provided coastal apprentice Mollie Partridge with the second leg of her double when she notched Mason’s own double with an impressive effort on Henny The First.
Mason started just two runners and returned to Tamworth with a 100 per cent strike rate.
“It doesn’t happen very often,” he admitted.
“But you take them when they come.”
It was also Partridge’s first ride for Mason.
“I couldn’t ask for any better than that,” he said.
