That’s the opinion of Tamworth trainer Mark Mason after the lightly raced four-year-old gelding hung on for a narrow win in Tuesday’s In Memory of Riharna Thomson Benchmark 55 Handicap (1200m).

The Tamworth Jockey Club had observed a minute’s silence before the race in memory of the young university student who lost her life after being injured in a track work fall in Canberra.

While it was a sad occasion before the race Mason was more than happy after the race.

“He’s still learning,” he said after the half neck win from Greg Bennett’s Sadhika. Cody Morgan’s Pelerin was a half length away third.

“He might make a Cups horse later on.”

The latter comment was in answer to a question as to whether the gelding son of All American might stay at the 1200m sprint distances.

“No, I think he can get the 1400m once he matures a bit,” he said.

“I think he can get it.”

He said the ride of Matty McGuren was simple and perfect.

“He rode him well, pushed out at the right time, just like Robert,” Mason said.

Robert is Robert Thompson and was good praise for McGuren who has been in outstanding form the last 12 months or so.

McGuren had earlier in the meeting led all the way on Neon Jungle to win the Carlton Mid Maiden Plate (1600m) for Wyong trainer Damien Lane.

It gave Lane a win and a third after Eyota had finished third to Barricade in the previous race. While pleased with their results Lane thought it might well have been the other way around.

He had leant towards Eyota because “he has always had his measure” on the training track.

However Neon Jungle led and defied all challenges to notch his first win at his fifth start, holding out Paul Perry’s sand wedge with the Les Tilley-trained Bridie’s Brook third.

“They are both green,” Lane admitted.

He believes there is plenty of improvement in them.

Neon Jungle was stepping up from 1350m to 1600m, which was always the query for the three-year-old.

“Matty rode him well. I think he can only be better next prep,” Lane said.