NICCONI gelding LOTHARIO (pictured) took his earnings to 141k with a sterling victory at the Gold Coast metropolitan meeting Saturday. Given a heady ride from rearward by apprentice Jag Guthmann-Chester, the 5 year old finished resolutely to score by about half a length in the 1400m C6.
The drying surface (upgraded to a GOOD 3) and the luxury weight of 52.5kg after Jag’s allowance were doubtless contributing factors but most of all the horse is now appreciating being ridden from off the speed. He’d been a previous winner over the track and distance back in June but has appreciated more patient handling since.
Trainer Steve O’Dea was delighted to secure a Saturday win with the horse who now boasts the tidy record of 5-4-6 from 25 starts. There are no immediate plans other to maintain his competition in similar races through the spring.
The win was PROVEN’S 28th in 2017 and caps a great run from Steve who’s prepared 7 of the past 12 winners for us over the winter.