Sunshine Coast trainer Darryl Hansen rated Vo Heart the best horse he has trained after he won the Group Two Champagne Classic at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Vo Heart ($13) held off a determined challenge from runner-up Vilanova ($9.50) to win by a half neck with Global Dream ($12) 1-1/2 lengths away third.
Vo Heart - Photo by Daniel Costello
“I said to his owner before the race this horse is the best I’ve ever put a bridle on and I really thought this was a perfect race for him,” Hansen said.
“When the rain came I thought it would suit him even though it was the strongest field he’s faced.”
Hansen believes Vo Heart has earned his chance in the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1350m) at Doomben on May 25 before his main goal, the Group One JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 8.
“I wanted to use today’s race as a stepping stone to the Sires’ and JJ Atkins and although things will get tougher from now on I’m not afraid to aim him at those races,” he said.
Jockey Eddie Wilkinson’s confidence in Vo Heart grew when heavy rain hit Eagle Farm.
“I was pretty happy to see the rain pelting down because I knew it wouldn’t be a problem for my horse and it might affect the chances of a few of the favourites,” Wilkinson said.
“He handled the conditions really well and I was impressed with the fight he showed in the final stages when the second horse really put it to him.”
While Hansen believes Vo Heart will handle a step up in distance in the Sires’, Wilkinson said the gelding remains unproven at the trip.
“It will suit him better than the 1200 metres today but he found one better over that trip the only time he was tried at the 1350 metres,” he said.
“The Sires is definitely worth having a go but whether he can get a mile in the JJ Atkins we’ll have to wait and see.”
