HE KNOWS was shaping like he didn’t know where the winning post was, or at the very least was suffering from memory lapse since his maiden victory back in January.

In eight subsequent runs, the SPILL THE BEANS gelding had frustratingly weighed in second on four occasions but Wednesday at Doomben, HE KNOWS regained his winning mojo under a daring ride from Baylee Nothdurft.

Ridden patiently from a wide gate, the 4YO relished the soft ground, bullocking through a narrow gap on straightening to race clear and win like a $2.20 chance should, to give Nothdurft an early 23rd birthday present and PROVEN THOROUGHBREDS 50 wins for the calendar year (17 for the season).

“He got keen there for about 200m but then he relaxed. He was going really well on the corner so I rode him for luck, we got a little split and he charged through it and put the field away really well back on a soft 7,” Baylee said post-race.

Bred by co-trainer Steve O’Dea and prepared by he and Matt Hoysted, HE KNOWS was a bargain $25k purchase at the Magic Millions March Sale in 2019.

The Class 1 victory over 1350m was his second from 13 starts that have also yielded 5 placings and $96k in prizemoney. His younger full sister SECRET TALES is also a two-time winner for the stable.

The training partnership is on fire bookending the meeting following unbeaten 3YO BIRRIECART’s impressive disposal of BM65 rivals in the opening race. Matt and Steve currently sit second on the QLD Metropolitan Trainers’ Premiership with 16 wins and a superior strike rate of 35.6%.

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