Hot Rhythm and Greg Ryan surge to a brilliant win at Tamworth on Friday. Photo: Barry Smith 191012BSD03
HOT Rhythm could be coastal -bound after Friday’s impressive win at Tamworth.
The Mark Mason-trained filly surged to her second race win in fine style, leading and winning the Happy 80th Birthday Dulcie Newling Benchmark 55 Handicap (1000m) by a length and three quarters from the Jeremy Sylvester-trained Aye Aye.
The three-year-old daughter of Hard Spun had won last time out at Scone and impressed her jockey Greg Ryan, who had ridden her in her three previous starts.
“She felt a lot better,” Ryan told Mason after the win.
“It was a lot better with that rough going she’s got about her.”
Mason also asked Ryan if he thought she might be up to provincial standard.
“Is she worth a trip down there?” Mason enquired.
“In the right race,” Ryan said.
“In one with her own sex she’d go well and not past 1200m.”
Mason is hoping she can develop further for a group of owners including his daughter Aimee, Inverell’s Scott Williams and Tamworth ambulance man Rick Hillier.
“I just watched the replay again,” Williams said, “and it looked even better that time.”
Hillier was delighted.
He’s had a few handy horses with Mason, including Forcing Thru and Queen Isis.
“Mark just rang me one day to see if I wanted to go in this little filly,” Hillier said.
“It was the best call I’ve had for a while.
“I’ve got another one with Sue Grills and he’s gone shin- sore at the moment but Sue is really happy with the way he’s going.”
Mason’s win was his sixth of the new season to be four astern of Luke Griffith in the HNWRA trainers’ premiership.
Ryan has eight wins in the HNWRA this season to be 12 adrift of Robert Thompson in the jockeys’ premiership.
Earlier in the day, Ryan was also presented with the Tamworth Jockey Club’s jockeys’ premiership after he notched 19 winners at the Tamworth track last season.
“I’d like to thank the Tamworth Jockey Club,” he said.
“They’ve always been good to me. I’d like to thank all my owners and trainers too.”
His 19 winners were 10 more than Rachael Murray, with Jess Drury, Glenn Lynch and Thompson all one win further back on nine.