Nash Rawiller and Peter & Paul Snowden combined with Huetor (+1300) to storm to victory in the Group 3 JRA Plate (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday afternoon.
The son of Archipenko was only second-up into the campaign after a moderate display in the Group 3 Doncaster Prelude (1500m) over an unsuitable distance, bouncing back on the Heavy conditions to add career win number eight to the tally.
It was another rail hugging steer that proved best, with barrier one allowing Rawiller to stalk his rivals from the inside as Yonce (+1500) attempted to make every post a winner under Tommy Berry.
Goldman (+400) was smashed in betting with online bookmakers from double figures and ran on admirably after chasing home on a three-wide line throughout the journey.
Hezashocka (+800) was hammering home down the centre of the course, along with the Annabel Neasham-trained Bois D’Argent (+450), but all the running was to the inside, which had clearly been the superior going throughout the day.
Once getting off the back of the leader, there was only one horse in contention, as Huetor dominated his rivals to score by 2.2 lengths.
2024 Group 3 JRA Plate Replay – Huetor
Co-trainer Paul Snowden was on track to praise Huetor before suggesting the two-time Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) would head back to his favourite circuit.
“We’re starting to get there,” said Snowden.
“Honestly, there was plenty of excuses in his first-up run. He got caught behind a horse that was going nowhere.
He got dragged back through the ruck and he’s a horse once you start to let him come up underneath you, you’ve got to really go with him and just keep pointing him in the right direction.
“You can’t stop and start him. Believe it or not, I reckon he’s won about four or five races just cutting the corner and coming up the fence like that.
“I believe he’s going better than what his last run suggests. It is a little shock, because he has struggled on these heavy conditions before. But obviously we’re heading up to the Hollindale and the Doomben Cup and he’s going up there in really good form.”
Nash Rawiller spoke to the tactical advantage on the inside fence before crediting his mount for an impressive turn-of-foot when asked the question.
“I think the fence has been pretty good all day,” said Rawiller.
“He drew one, I let him find his feet. He’s probably not rock-hard fit yet but he was able to conserve his energy in the run.
“Like I said to connections before the race, ‘if we get to the half-mile and we’re going alright, we’ll know we’re a chance’ because the ground might have found him out by then.”
“You could see there that he was travelling and he’s got a terrific turn of foot; we know that. You don’t win Doomben Cups if you don’t have that sort of ability.”
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