A welcome change of luck and newfound desire conjured an overdue victory for 4yo gelding MELTDOWN at the Sunshine Coast’s Sunday meeting.
Prior to his weekend success, MELTDOWN had been the epitome of frustration, having failed to deliver since a lone victory back at Caloundra last winter. The son of boom sire TOO DARN HOT had found some creative ways to get beaten on either side of that win, and his record was beginning to slip away, reading 8: 1-0-1.
However, the MELTDOWN’s career may well have turned for the better on the back of Sunday’s sharp return to form. Responding to hard riding, he rallied gamely after coming under pressure before the turn to win the 1400m BM58 Handicap by 0.85 lengths.
“I put him into the race early as he was wanting to come off the bridle,” revealed jockey Jag Guthmann-Chester.
“Then I felt when he hit the front, he really pinned his ears back and had a good crack!”
Trainer Matt Hoysted had not lost faith in his charge, making the bold call to remove the race earmuffs and to back the horse up promptly from his forgettable performance at the Gold Coast the Friday prior.
“It was a good test of stamina as they ran the 1400m at a decent tempo,” said Hoysted
“It was great to see him so strong late. Hopefully he can progress to 1600m and beyond which would really open some doors for him.”
A humble low grade Benchmark race is hardly the stuff of dreams but MELTDOWN’s patient owners deserved a break. The steely resolve the horse displayed at the business end of the race, suggests at least some more wins are in store.
MELTDOWN’S tough performance was the second leg of a Queensland double for PROVEN, hot on the heels of LARADO at Eagle Farm 24 hours earlier. It was also win number 24 for the season.
Meantime the Hoysted stable has made a fast start to the year with MELTDOWN being the team’s 10th winner from 31 starts for an impressive strike rate of 32.3%.
