Another elite training performance from Ciaron Maher and David Eustace was on full display at Flemington on Saturday with last year’s Victoria Derby winner Hitotsu taking out one racing’s most prestigious three-year-old races, the Australian Guineas.
The lightly raced colt out of Maurice was a live $8.00 chance heading into his first start, but it didn’t take long for him to flex his muscle under another brilliant ride from John Allen.
With several getting lost in a messy finish down the straight, Hitotsu burst clear out wide and kept finding to fend off the challenging Lightsaber, who ran a big race for second.
Hitotsu had won previously first-up, but after winning the Derby over 2500m, several thought he warranted consideration over further.
Maher and Eustace have developed a strong reputation for their staying types, but they were also quietly confident their prized three-year-old could run a race fresh.
“It was an awesome ride and it’s just a really good horse,” Eustace told Racing,com.
After winning last week’s Futurity Stakes aboard Sierra Sue, John Allen’s brilliant run of form continued at Flemington on Saturday with a win in the Australian Guineas. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
“We were confident. I was a little bit confident about whether he’d have the speed to accelerate at the mile, he needed every inch of it because it wasn’t a very nice last 100m.”
Allen, who is usually softly spoken, also had full faith in his ride.
“Johnny has so much faith in the horse, he’s rarely confident, but he was really confident and that gives you plenty,” Eustace said.
Although the win itself was special, it also earned a special place in history with Hitotsu becoming not only the first horse to win the Guineas fresh, but also just the fourth to win one coming out of the Derby.
As to what’s next, Eustace hinted that we might see Hitotsu back at Flemington for the All-Star Mile in a fortnight’s time.
“He’s in the All-Star Mile, it’d have to be a possibility. He obviously raced today. We know he gets further. We’ll worry about it tomorrow,” Eustace added.
Hitotsu can be found at $15.00 in Ladbrokes’ All-In All-Star Mile market.
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