Highly Vindicated was rewarded for his consistency when breaking through for his maiden victory at Arawa Park on Thursday.
Jumping from the inside barrier, Highly Vindicated took an early trail and enjoyed an economical passage behind pacemaker Windsor Castle. The son of Highly Recommended responded to the urgings of jockey Joe Doyle in the straight and was able to reel in Windsor Castle and score a long neck victory.
The four-year-old gelding had placed in six of his previous 12 starts, including all three of his outings this preparation, and trainers Fred and Lindsay Cornege were pleased to finally get a winning result.
“He ran seventh in the Waikato Guineas (Group 2, 2000m), which wasn’t a disgrace. We then gave him a good spell and he has had form all the way through,” Fred Cornege said.
“He is an interesting horse, he has been a work in progress. He has loomed up a couple of times before to win a race and then he just pulls up.
“A credit to Joe Doyle today. He rides him in work, so knows him inside out now. We had to chase something, which worked today.”
Cornege was also rapt for owner Paul Denton, who races the gelding under his P K Partnership banner.
“I am very happy for the owner because there is not a winner in the family since 1999,” Cornege said.
“It is the first horse he has raced. He inherited the horse from his father who passed away, so it’s a fairytale story all around.
“He has got a yearling and two-year-old half-sisters by Embellish, so he might be bitten by the bug now hopefully.”
Cornege is now eyeing some of the rich prizemoney on offer in Auckland over the coming months.
“There will be a nice $70,000 race at Pukekohe for him on Melbourne Cup Day now,” he said.
“We will just take it one race at a time. There is some good money coming up, so we will target the Auckland cluster of races for him.”
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