Jim Mason led in his first city winner in six months at Caulfield on Saturday, at the same time achieving another rare, if dubious, distinction.
He was the only winning trainer present at the track to see his horse cross the line.
Snow Cover winning the Swettenham Stud Summer Championship (Heat 6) at Caulfield - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia (Steven Dowden)
Mason’s handy performer Snow Cover took the final race, the sixth heat of the Swettenham Stud Summer Championship (1600m), rewarding his trainer for his patience and faith.
“His first three runs this time in were pretty ordinary,” Mason said.
“It’s been character building.”
Snow Cover had shown glimpses of ability in stakes races, but all but one of his previous five wins had been over moderate company at out-of-town tracks.
“He’s been close up in some good races … he wasn’t too far from Green Moon in the Blamey Stakes last autumn,” he said.
“But I’d have to say this is a relief.”
Snow Cover ($15) camped on the solid pace set by The New Boy ($4.40), finishing the stronger to beat that horse by a long head.
Dayita ($10) plodded into third place 1-3/4 lengths further away.
For jockey Damien Thornton Snow Cover was his 12th city winner and second on the Caulfield program on a day when two jockeys rode doubles and two trainers led in a pair of winners.
The other multiple winner among the riding ranks was Glen Boss who is in a novel position, 11 wins clear at the top of the Melbourne jockeys’ premiership.
Boss, the winner of three Melbourne Cups, two Cox Plates and two Golden Slippers, among dozens of others major race victories, has never won a riders’ title in more than 20 years in the saddle.
“I’ve never been in a position where it’s been likely,” Boss said.
“I’ve never ridden permanently for the big stables.”
Saturday’s double came thanks to trainer Anthony Freedman, the three-year-old filly Hazard and the veteran sprinter First Command.
Hazard, the $2.70 favourite, made it three wins from six starts, taking the Thomas North Handicap (1400m) by three-quarters of a length from Nella Fantasia ($3.50) with 1-1/2 lengths to Evens ($7) in third.
Boss described First Command as being a length of the top sprinters after his 1-1/4 length win in the Mal Seccull Handicap (1000m).
“He’s had a wind operation and other issues,” Boss said.
“He deserved to win another one.”
Mick Price also trained a pair of winners – General Peekay in the Robert Taranto Handicap (1100m) and the brilliant Tariana in the John Moule Handicap (1200m) – but like Freedman and the other winning trainers, he was on the Gold Coast preparing to spend a small fortune on yearlings.
A situation that wasn’t lost on Mason.
“There’s a reason why I’m here and they’re up there. It’s not by choice.”
