It wasn’t pretty but talented four-year-old Bullets High scored a narrow victory in the De Bortoli Wines Benchmark 88 Handicap (2100m) at Wyong on Saturday as he repaid the faith of his many supporters.
Having placed in four of his previous five starts, the Joe Pride-trained gelding was sent out the $3.20 favourite for Saturday’s contest.
Jockey Alysha Collett elected to use petrol early and push forward on the son of Ace High after beginning well and despite looking under pressure entering the home straight, fought on gamely to defeat Unlimited by a nose.
“He has been a very consistent horse and I don’t think there has been any lack of effort from him but maybe a bit of a lack of race-craft,” Pride said.
“He is pretty dumb but he is getting it together. He loves Warwick Farm and it has been the plan all preparation to get him to the Australia Day Cup (Listed, 2400m) there and that is where we will head next.
“He was tenacious. He paraded really well today and there wasn’t a drop of sweat on him, he’s rock hard and fit, and Alysha did the rest.”
Winning rider Alysha Collett had done her pre-race homework and got the best out of Bullets High.
“I kept going through his replays and all I could think is he just keeps running,” Collett said.
“So when I got caught wide I did have to use him, but when I was able to get there he switched off completely and that is a massive asset to him.
“We started going through our gears at the 600m and it was actually tough. I liked the way they kept getting to him and he kept giving me a little bit more and it took me half an hour to pull him up.
“I think he is going to get further and he is going to keep improving.”
Bullets High is a son of promising Rich Hill Stud stallion Ace High out of the three-win Iffraaj mare Sororia.
The winner of four of his 15 starts with a further six placings, Bullets High advanced his career earnings to A$320,910.
He was purchased by Avo Damirdjian’s Tried And True Bloodstock for $60,000 from the Book 2 session of the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale from the draft of Haunui Farm.