Pat Hyland’s approach to training might qualify him as a control freak – but he insists he is a selective one.
The 70-year-old former jockey justified his methods at Flemington on Saturday when Shanghai Warrior won the $150,000 Group Three Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m), predicting his new stable star is on the way to bigger things.
“This horse has got some real ability,” Hyland said.
Shanghi Warrior winning the Aurie's Star Handicap at Flemington - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia
“You’ll see the best of him a bit later on when he gets over more ground, these are just the preliminaries.”
Shanghai Warrior ($8) scored his second successive victory down the Flemington straight course, upsetting the $2.80 favourite Golden Archer to win by a length with Zamorar ($3.10) another three-quarters of a length away.
Although jockey Steven King did a useful job steering the son of Elvstroem, Hyland, who retired from the saddle 22 years ago, gave virtually all of the credit to himself.
“I ride him in all his work and I’ll keep doing it,” he said.
“All my good horses I ride myself, and I picked this one out as a good one a long time ago.
“I still ride better than most of these jockeys anyway.”
A Melbourne Cup-winning jockey, Hyland was also the almost constant partner of the super sprinter Vain.
Hyland said he would keep Shanghai Warrior to straight course racing until the Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 30.
“He won’t go round a corner until then, but it won’t be a problem,” he said.
“I’ll decide where we go for the spring after that.”
After Shanghai Warrior’s previous win, Hyland said the Cox Plate could be on the horse’s program.
He didn’t repeat the suggestion on Saturday, but when it was put to him, he didn’t reject it.
“We’ll see what happens, but I’m not saying he’s not good enough,” he said.
Shanghai Warrior aside, the Aurie’s Star failed to provide any solid clues to the spring.
Topweight Midas Touch, a player in last year’s major races until he fell ill, had backing from $51 to $31 but after settling behind the leaders he went backwards.
The French stayer Sysmo fared better, running on from near last to finish fifth after being well supported.
Trainer Tony McEvoy said he wanted to use the race to liven the horse up and was content he had achieved that aim.
