SUE Grills was beaming after Blinkin Fast won the Carlton Mid Maiden Handicap at Tuesday’s race meet at the Tamworth Jockey Club.
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Blinkin Fast ploughed through the Heavy 10 to win the 1200m race by three-and-a-quarter lengths from 20-1 shot Bowie’s Boy (Leon Davies).
A $1.80 favourite, Blinkin Fast was coming off a 10th to Jazzee Nick at Scone and was put into the race by Greg Ryan.
“I gave him a bit of a razz up on the way around to the barriers,” Ryan said.
Ryan then moved him into a winning spot just behind the race leaders and then pounced in the straight.
A son of smart Missile, Blinkin Fast was having his fourth career start for owner Errol French.
Grills described Blinkin Fast as “a lovely big horse”.
“We’ll see how he pulls up now and just take each race at a time,” Grills said.
“But it also depends on the weather.
“If it’s going to keep on being wet, it might be better to give him a break and a freshen up.”
Grills nonetheless commented that the “older he gets the better he will get”.
Grills did have one of the favourites for the Shay Brennan Constructions Benchmark 63 Handicap (1200m) in Market Guru, but scratched him in preference to run at Grafton on Friday.
Her apprentice, Melanie Bolwell, rode the winner, Poet’s Trick, for Tamworth trainer Stephen Dixon.
They led all the way to post a sixth career win for the six-year-old gelding son of Dylan Thomas.
“He ran a real good race at Moree too,” Dixon said of his second to Rubaymay before finishing unplaced at Muswellbrook.
“Had to run at Muswellbrook and threw him in a 100m to get ready for this.
“He loves the wet. He’s a good honest old bloke to run around the bush.”
He became another win for Bolwell since the apprentice started with Grills earlier this year.
Her first winner came at the Walcha Cup carnival, but her recent riding has been interrupted by a two-month spell.
“I got kicked by a horse,” she said.
Bolwell had partnered Poet’s Trick at Moree and Muswellbrook, and was delighted with his effort.
“He loves the wet,” she said.
“He needed that run at Muswellbrook too.”
Dixon commented that the run at Muswellbrook was “a good hit-out” for Tuesday’s race meet, and necessary in the wake of wet conditions in Tamworth.