Top jockey Hugh Bowman was credited for the consolation win of Aeronautical who defied his usual racing pattern to claim the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap at Randwick.
A backmarker with a big finish, Aeronautical settled closer than expected on Saturday.
Aeronautical - Photo by Steve Hart
Trainer Lionel Cohen told Bowman not to be afraid to position Aeronautical in the first half of the field given the Kensington track appeared to suit horses on the speed.
“I said to Hughie, it depends how you get out of the gates. He’s an older horse, he’s a strong horse and it doesn’t matter where you put him, he doesn’t have to go back,” Cohen said.
“And he jumped and moved him up and I think that played a big part in the result.”
Cohen had been hoping the horse would secure an invitation to contest the Hong Kong Sprint at last Sunday’s International meeting but Aeronautical did not make the cut.
He was satisfied with the smaller spoils earned via the Razor Sharp Handicap (1150m) victory.
“A little consolation,” Cohen said.
“It’s always good to win at Randwick.
“He’s had his excuses in the past, no excuses today. I was very confident.”
Group One placed in the Newmarket Handicap last autumn, Aeronautical signalled he was in for a good campaign when he was nosed out of a first-up victory in The Shorts.
He went to Melbourne for the Gilgai Stakes down the Flemington straight but was affected by an allergy and didn’t fire.
But Aeronautical ($5.50) bounced back on Saturday, diving through late to score by a neck over the $3 favourite Heart Testa with Pampelonne ($15) running an improved race in blinkers, a long head away third.
Aeronautical will have a short break before returning for the autumn sprints in Melbourne and Sydney.
The Razor Sharp victory was Bowman’s third in as many years following previous wins aboard News Alert and Adebesi.
