Harry Coffey’s riding has perked up after a few quiet meetings – with winners at Seymour on Friday and Bendigo on Sunday.
They were his first wins since booting home El Campeon for trainer/father Austy at Swan Hill on April 9.
At Seymour he steered the McEvoy-trained Pyrois to victory in the $27,000 Choices Flooring Seymour & Euroa Handicap over 1200m.
But on Sunday, the Swan Hill hoop was back to his scintillating best on board the heavily-backed Heart of Glass – also for the McEvoys.
Sent out as favourite in the $35,000 Apiam Animal Health BM64 over 1000m, the lightly raced three-year-old filly was having only her third start after winning on debut for Coffey at Ballarat in October last year.
Or as Coffey put it: “We were coming to Bendigo as a pretty soft option for her return and bumped into a very handy field”.
The small field all got away well, and at the top of the straight it looked as though the pace might have been even too hot for her.
“I think the first two home, even the third horse, might prove to be pretty handy,” Coffey said post-race.
“She had to fight hard to win and it’s good that she showed that trait and got the job done.
“I thought Stacky (Daniel Stackhouse on Harry Got Styles) might have beaten me, especially the run he’s having – usually when you are going well you get those tight finishes up.
“I actually said to him ‘I think you might have got me’ so it was good to get the news.
“This horse has lots of scope, she can gallop, she has a lovely action and last time in she just wanted to really get on with things.
“This time round, in her jump outs and her racing, she has been a lot more relaxed and calm. This might be a good thing going forward as it allows her to be more versatile and she might be able to get out a bit further.
“She’s a nice filly and it is great partnering her.”
Also at Seymour, Nyah West jockey Madison Lloyd was in the winner’s circle with Divine Turf breaking through in the $27,000 bet365 Plate over 1200m for her first win.
