A fighting win by Backstab on a heavy Randwick track has underlined the qualities his jockey believes will take him a long way as a three-year-old.
Josh Parr has ridden the Gerald Ryan-trained colt in all his four starts which have realised two wins and two minor placings.
Backstab
Sent out the $2.90 favourite in Saturday’s 2YO Plate (1200m), Backstab went straight to the front and fought off the challenge by Libidosun ($6.50) by a short neck.
Racing got underway in clear conditions after heavy rain overnight on Thursday put the meeting in doubt.
“The track is really, really heavy and the horses are plunging their feet deep into it but there’s no kick back,” Parr said.
“But he handled it and the best part about him is that he loves a fight.
“When the going gets tough he really gets going. He is just so tractable for a young horse and does everything asked of him.
“He is a real professional which will take him a long way.”
Ryan’s foreman Sterling Alexiou said the colt would be given a break with late spring races in mind.
Punters were on the mark again with God’s In Him living up to his $2.05 favouritism in the Benchmark 85 over 1400 metres.
The Hawkes Racing-trained five-year-old came from behind to beat Lunar Rise ($5.50) by a long neck.
“He is in at the right time,” Michael Hawkes said.
“We’ll take him through the grades in similar type races.”
