SYNTHETIC specialist Harry Coffey has done it again – this time in the $27,000 Hygain Winners Choice Handicap on Ballarat’s winter track.
And it was a classic Ballarat day, cold and raining, as the Swan Hill jockey battled both the conditions and a big field going fast over the 1200m journey.
Caught a little flatfooted at the jump, Coffey and Neon’s Last had to work overtime if the horse was going to come first and make their way around virtually all the other 11 runners.
Coming out of the last bend Coffey was caught right off the track as the front runners lined up closer to the rails – and the finish line.
At the 250m pacemaker Fugacity looked home and hosed but Coffey was not panicking on the race favourite, which was now coming down the centre of the track and gathering a serious head of steam.
Shaalute had the same plan and made its charge with 100m to go but by then Coffey and Neon’s Last were flying and swept by Fugacity and grabbed Shaalute on the line to win by a head.
Punters might have been perturbed but Coffey reckons it was never in doubt.
“These days at Ballarat really make you love your job,” Coffey quipped post-race as the rain kept coming.
“I think this is the worst day we have had this season; it almost makes you want to go on a holiday, doesn’t it?
“We had an interesting run; we weren’t great away and I tried to blend back until I noticed I was going to get caught behind some slow ones.
“So I have him a bit of a squeeze mid race to improve my position wider, but with some cover.”
Coffey said Neon’s Last did that with such ease he was a little concerned he might have overdone it.
He said the horse travelled well around several runners and then quickened nicely.
“In the end he did a good job because he sustained a long run from about the 500m with a big weight,” Coffey said.
“He was wanting the line late, but I did use him earlier in the straight than I probably would have liked and if he had drawn a better gate he probably would have got a good run and looked a lot more impressive.”
