SWAN Hill trainer Con Kelly had an End of Day to celebrate when his seven-year-old gelding defied all odds to snatch victory in the lucky last at the Hanging Rock Cup meeting on Wednesday.
Just as happy was jockey Michael Poy – the win on the 60/1 longshot gave him a double for the day after he took out the second on the card with Snappy Li’l Thing in a 1000m dash for cash.
But the $20,000 Evolve Interiors Handicap was a much bigger ask, over the classic mile distance, and in a field with a red-hot favourite the only thing to catch the interest of any punter.
However, the writing might have been on the wall when an errant kangaroo hopped onto the track as horses were parading for the final event, causing a 15-minute delay in starting the race.
Long enough for Hendrika, which had been as tight as $1.35 in early betting; but had eased just out of the red to $2.10 by the time it reached the barrier; to be scratched at the last possible moment.
Stewards said the five-year-old mare had been examined by the racecourse vet when it arrived at Hanging Rock and was passed fit to race after being re-plated.
As the horses came onto the course proper and headed for the barriers, Hendrika dislodged rider Will Gordon and was again examined by the vet, this time at the gate; where he deemed the favourite was unfit to race and it was scratched at 4.48pm.
The racing gods, it seemed, had smiled on Team Kelly (and would want to after the horse had drawn the widest gate in the field) and as soon as the starter let them go, Poy went into overdrive getting up to fourth – one out and one back.
Burleigh Boy, Sarnia and Last Dream took off like cut cats, but Poy did not panic and stuck to his read of the race and as the field started coming back together – despite a stumble around the 500m mark – he steered End of Day to be the widest horse on the turn (for one minute it looked as though Poy was going to go via the carpark) and then swept past the much more fancied runners to win by a long neck.
Kelly was a bit more philosophical – he said Poy went wide because there was plenty of “clear air out there”.
He’s also thinking he might need to make sure the races for which he nominates End of Day are the last of the day.
“His last win, at Kerang in April 2021, was also the last of the day, so maybe there really is a connection between his name and the races we choose,” Kelly said with a laugh.
“But really, it was a fabulous ride by Michael; and he told me when the horse stumbled at the 500m it may have been a foot going into a depression or hole on the track – but whatever it was it got the old boy going and he took off from there.
“Of course, racing is also about luck, and it didn’t hurt having the favourite pulled out just before the race.”
Kelly said despite being totally overlooked by punters, he felt his horse would go well on the day.
He said End of Day’s previous start, at Kerang on Boxing Day over 1100m to finish fourth, was a good run that also showed the horse would like a bit more ground.
“It certainly didn’t do him any damage and he pulled up well, has cleaned up all his tucker since we got him home and now I might look for another start between 1400m and the mile for him,” Kelly said.
“Preferably in the last event of the day.”
