Poet Lad continued a successful week for Tamworth trainer Craig Martin when the gelding drove through strongly in the closing stages to win the opening race at Tamworth on Monday.
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Only an emergency for the race, the six-year old hit the front with about 100m to go and held off a fast-finishing favourite Taketheshot (Mark Mason) by about half-a-length. In what was a close finish the photo was needed to decide the minor placings.
It was Poet Lad's second start for Martin, who on Thursday won the $75,000 Lismore Cup with Tavion Prince.
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"He's got a lot of ability this horse, but he's got a lot of tricks and riddles to him but we're slowing working them out," Martin told Sky Thoroughbred Central post-race.
"He had a hard run today, three-wide, but I said to [jockey] Benny (Looker) just put him where he's comfortable and see if he can get into the race and he did."
An acquisition from Queensland, the gelding had shown some good form up there.
"First up he was probably a bit too fresh, just having him the barriers because he was having a few barrier issues, but today he was a lot more settled and I thought he'd give a big show today and he did," Martin said.
Troy O'Neile also celebrated a win with Onemorechoice saluting two races later.
Given fairly well free reign out in front, the four-year old gelding was too good as he backed up from a last start second for his third win.
"They give it to him, when they let him lead that easy," he told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
"He was walking up front, he was barely cantering and he's way too tough and he's got too much grit in his guts when you give him that easy a lead."
