Class rose to the top in Wednesday’s Galleywood Hurdle as Saunter Boy went on to claim a second straight win in the Galleywood Hurdle.
The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained grey was forced to lug 71kg in the Heavy 10 going at Warrnambool, but did so in fine style when going on to beat Fabalot by 2.5 lengths.
The eventual runner-up Fabalot ($14) ensured that the race was run at a genuine clip throughout, but Saunter Boy ($1.75) enjoyed a lovely run in transit under Steven Pateman throughout and hit the lead inside the final 400m and never looked like getting beaten.
Arguably, the disappointment of the race was Blandford Lad ($3.40) who was backed as if unbeatable in the final five minutes of betting when being backed in from a $5 quote with online bookmakers.
However, he and the remaining rivals were running for second a long way out as Saunter Boy cruised to another win in the Galleywood Hurdle.
2023 Galleywood Hurdle Replay – Saunter Boy
The win handed Ciaron Maher and David Eustace their third win in the jumping feature, after Big Blue claimed the race back in 2019.
“Super horse. He was always in control,” Maher said.
“I said to Steve when he was going out that ‘if you’re half thinking about it, just go for it because he’s so ready to go this year’.
“It was super. Great job by the team. A lot of owners here and I was very confident.”
Pateman, now a four-time Galleywood Hurdle winner was full of praise for his mount post-race.
“He’s so good for jumps racing and I’m so glad he’s in these wonderful (trainers’) hands,” Pateman said after the two length victory.
“I was so over the moon for the horse and so proud of him. How can he be going as good as last year but he’s probably going better. Just so happy for the horse.
“He came off the bit before the second last but Ciaron said he’s fit and if you’re thinking about it ‘just go’ … into the second last (hurdle), that was him home.
“I knew he was home then and just had to get over the last … he was careful over the last and too good.”
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