HALFWAY To Heaven outstayed his opponents to win yesterday’s $25,000 Prydes EasiFeed Gunnedah Cup (1600m) by a half head from Moree gelding Free Billy.
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The Taree gelding, trained by Bob Haire, had run third to Plutorius in his most recent run at Tamworth and bowled along in front with regular jockey, 2kg claiming apprentice Kaylee Kirkwood, in perfect control.
She rated the five-year-old gelding son of Dylan Thomas to perfection.
The gelding has now won five races and more than $103,000 in prizemoney.
“That’s my fourth win on him,” Kirkwood told Sky Thoroughbred central.
“He’s a nice horse.
“I know him like the back of my hand.”
She counts a Dubbo Cup win two years ago as her best in the saddle but said this was her best win since.
Haire has been aiming Halfway To Heaven at a 2200m Benchmark 85 race over 2200m at next Saturday’s second day of the Scone Cup Carnival.
“But there are six chances in 10 he won’t get a run in it.
“I could have run him in the 2050m race here today but he would have got 62kg. So I thought the Cup (1600m) would be nice.”
While he was basking in a Cup-winning glow he said he was still looking at running him next Saturday at Scone.
“I will still go to Scone, that’s my plan with him,” he said.
“Then I’ll probably have to take him to town because Racing NSW have got racing stuffed.”
Earlier in the day, Paul Perry and Anthony Cavallo combined to win the first two races with Dynamic Dynasty and Archduke.
Todd Howlett and Aaron Bullock then partnered up to win the XXXX Gold Akwazoff Handicap (2050m) with Slade Amigos while Tamworth trainer Craig Martin turned around Our Masquerade’s form to win the fourth and Scone trainer Peter Bloomfield made some gear changes to benefit his lightly-raced gelding Net Effect to win the Wideland Group GJC Celebrating 150 Years Class 1 Handicap (1400m).
He was having just his third race start and had nearly “thrown the race away” last start when he won a Scone maiden.
Andrew Gibbons rode the gelding and believes he has a future.
“He’s still got so much to learn,” Gibbons told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“He has got a future.”
Winning a Class 1 straight after a maiden win has always been a good indicator of talent.
Cody Morgan wrapped up a good day when he won the Kosec Kodari Securities Lightning (1000m) with Specific Choice.
Rachael Murray was the winning jockey and her victory allowed her to join Thomas Huet on 26 wins, second to Greg Ryan (45) in the HNWRA jockeys’ premiership.
