An irresistible drop in grade reaped dividends for the Joe Pride-trained gelding SO SPIRITED at Kembla Grange’s Thursday meeting.
After finishing on the heels of the placegetters in two Saturday metropolitan races last month, SO SPIRITED was well placed to return to winning ways in the Special Conditions Benchmark 75 Handicap (1400m) which restricted entries to horses that had contested a minimum of four provincial or country races in the past year.
Ridden a treat by Jay Ford, the grey son of SO YOU THINK was given every chance to go through his gears on a firmer-than-preferred surface before asserting his class in a 1.8-length victory.
It was Proven Thoroughbreds’ second win in as many days following the effortless success of RECKLESS CHOICE at the Sunshine Coast for Steve O’Dea.
Proven Thoroughbreds’ tally of winners for the year is now up to a quarter of century with total prizemoney comfortably in excess of $1 million.