A rise in distance and a patient ride by apprentice Lewis German has helped Reykjavik race to an impressive victory at Flemington.
Getting out wide on a rain-sodden track, Reykjavik recorded a convincing win in the Apache Cat Handicap to give trainer Lindsey Smith a double with two former West Australian gallopers.
Smith took out Saturday’s feature, the Listed Straight Six with Great Again, winning at his second Victorian start.
Reykjavik showed his credentials in Victoria last season, winning the Listed Winter Championship at Flemington in July while also claiming a Group Three race at Flemington during Melbourne Cup week.
Sent off an $11 chance, Reykjavik raced to a 2-3/4 length win from the $2.80 favourite Shot Of Irish with Django Freeman ($11) a further head away in third place.
Shane Jackson, representing Smith on Saturday, praised German for his patience in timing the winning run of Reykjavik to perfection.
“Wasn’t that a good ride,” Jackson said.
“Halfway down the straight I thought he might want to get going, but he knew the horse he had under him and he was really travelling.
“He let down beautifully and galloped to the line very impressively.”
Jackson said Reykjavik was ridden too handy when a fading eighth to Order Of Command in the Wangoom Handicap at Warrnambool earlier in the month.
“He’s a horse that likes to get a ‘suck’ into the race, which he did there from that barrier today,” Jackson said.
“He’s a versatile horse. He’s won at Group Three here over 1400 metres and now he’s won on the heavy over a mile, so there’s plenty of options.”
