WEDNESDAY: January 12, 2022: WINNERS at Wyong and Nowra at the weekend, a double on Newcastle’s Beaumont track on Monday….and another double at Taree yesterday.
Trainers Karen Outtrim and Terry Croft kept the Hawkesbury flag flying high by making it six winners in the last four days, and lifting the provincial track’s number of winners so far this season to 75.
Outtrim won her second race this season when Epaulette filly Military Star ($3 favorite) led throughout in the Maiden Plate (1255m), and Croft his fourth this season when Testa’s Flower ($7.50) took the Class 1 Handicap (1005m).
As with fellow Hawkesbury trainers Mitch and Desiree Kearney, Outtrim floated two horses – Military Star and Hidden Ace – to the ill-fated Orange meeting last Friday.
Military Star was to have raced against Team Kearney’s Lady Shenanigans (a winner on the Beaumont track on Monday) in a 1400m Maiden.
“The Orange meeting was called off about half an hour after we arrived at the track, but fortunately I had also accepted with Military Star at Taree,” Outtrim explained this morning.
“This was the first time Matthew Bennett had ridden a horse for me, and it was a very smart ride.
“He didn’t intend to lead, but did so when the filly jumped quickly and was comfortable, and he rated her nicely.”
Outtrim paid $3000 online through Inglis Digital for Military Star in October, 2020 as an unraced early two-year-old.
“She had some behavioural issues, and we sent her to fellow Hawkesbury trainer Daniel Robinson to sort her out.
“Daniel is a brilliant horseman and re-educated the filly, and jockey Robbie Brewer and trackwork rider Graham Sigsworth have continued that at Hawkesbury.”
Outtrim, who has four horses in work (the most she has ever had), put blinkers on Military Star when she finished second in a Wyong Maiden (1350m) on December 9.
“Kathy O’Hara rode her that day and she over-raced, but advised us to leave blinkers on her as they kept her focused,” she said.
Croft, whilst delighted to get another victory with $40,000 yearling purchase Testa’s Flower, was at a loss this morning to determine where he will go next with the five-year-old daughter of Testa Rossa.
“I honestly don’t know; I’m looking through the programs now,” he said. “She is a hard mare to place.”
A superb Ashley Morgan ride paved the way for Testa’s Flower to win her first race since scoring on her home track in September, 2020 at $31 when ridden by now Adelaide-based Stacey Metcalfe.
“Ash gave the mare a gun ride saving ground from the inside draw all the way, and it was pleasing to see her get back into the winning list,” Croft said.
“Testa’s Flower has been thereabouts in her races, and was dropping back from provincial to country grade.
“She has run some good races, including placings at home last year behind Van Giz and Barossa Rosa (both of whom went on to win in town).
“And she ran third at the Grafton carnival last July to Lasting Kiss, who subsequently won two races in Brisbane.”
Long-time Hawkesbury trainer Croft is the busiest he has ever been, now training more than double his normal number of horses, having recently taken over the team Garry White prepared for owner Grahame Mapp.