IT was a successful “learning curve” for Onemorechance at Tamworth’s first meeting of the year on Friday.
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The Troy O’Neile trained gelding broke its maiden in the day’s second race paying a handsome $51 with the bookmakers. O’Neile said he was “really pleased” with the two-year-old’s performance.
“Like I said earlier in the week, this race was a good oppurtunity to sound this horse out to see what he had,” O’Neile said.
“I must admit I didn’t expect him to go that well, the race was a learning curve for him and it was a terrific result.”
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Sitting three-wide and a length behind the leaders for much of the race, jockey Grace Willoughby prompted a big effort from the gelding to pick up the win from Luff in second.
“It was a great ride from Gracie,” O’Neile said.
“She used her head and helped him time his run up the straight really well.
“It was a good experience for her and for us, to me that’s what two-year-old racing is all about.”
O’Neile’s other hope for the race Fields of Red showed promise in its first run, leading for much of the race before finishing eleventh.
“Fields of Red jumped really well,” he said.
“It lead for a fair part of the race, but towards the end he ran out of legs.
“Still there was quite a lot to like about his run but I think he will head to the paddock and come back as a three-year-old.”
The Tamworth trainer said Onmorechance would now “look to have a rest” before a return later in the year.
“We will give him a bit of a spell for the time being,” he said.
“After that we will look at maybe Wellington or the English Challenge or something like that.”