REALLY REILLY scored a confidence boosting maiden victory at Doomben on Wednesday after notching no less than seven minor placings in his 14 prior starts for a Proven Syndicate that includes prominent owner/breeder Wilf Mula.
Jockey Paul Hammersley had REALLY REILLY positioned perfectly midfield one off the fence and although inclined to get his head up when the pace slackened and hitting a flat spot at the 500m, the horse gathered himself up to swoop down the outside in the home straight to score by three-quarters of a length on a heavy (8) track.
The four-year-old son of O’Reilly, bred by Mula, had raced consistently without luck before Wednesday’s 1350 metre event so it was a welcome sight to see the horse first past the post for the group of owners and trainer Steve O’Dea.
“I thought he accelerated nicely in the ground to pick up his rivals but once there wasn’t quite sure how to put them away….probably because he’s never been there before!”, O’Dea said post race.
Saturday’s meeting at the Gold Coast will see the return of Proven Thoroughbreds’ best galloper SIR MOMENTS, also trained by O’Dea. The five time stakes winner is due to contest the Gold Coast Stakes after almost a year off the scene due to injury and illness.
Meantime at Rosehill Proven along with Mula will have DRAGON FLYER lining up in the lucky last.