Rich Fortune for Jerome Hunter and Craig Williams has shown a blistering turn of foot to run over the top of the leaders in the final 100m of the Group 3 Kevin Hayes Stakes.
Williams gave Rich Fortune a great ride to weave a passage through the field and storm home late in the final 200m of the race, with the daughter of Rich Enuff earning her first bit of black-type at her third career start.
Queen Of The Ball looked to have the race all parcelled up – however – Williams and Rich Fortune had other ideas as they flew on by and nabbed her in the shadows of the post, with Cythera running into third.
Rich Fortune jumped as a $13 outsider with online bookmakers, while the other favoured runners, Dusse and She Dances proved to lack the quality of the first half-a-dozen.
2023 Kevin Hayes Stakes Replay – Rich Fortune
Jerome Hunter and his stable are flying at the moment, and he spoke post-race.
“We knew we were gonna go pretty close today,” Hunter said, alongside his family.
“I’m glad the winning post has been moved, because she had no hope on the original distance.
“Look, it was a great ride, he was cool and he knew the horse. He had ridden her at her trials and everything.
“I kind of knew she was my best horse I’ve got, when you consider how she won at Moonee Valley, it takes a good horse to win like that.”
Hunter was asked what was next for this filly after her second win in three career starts.
“We will go home and celebrate, and I hope we get a crack and some good races and she’s up to them.”
Craig Williams recorded back-to-back wins after scoring on Exploring in the previous race and he spoke again post-race.
“It’s pretty exciting to come here on a Saturday on the first Group 1 of the year and to have a filly at her third race start win a Stakes race,” Williams said.
More horse racing news
