Darryl Hansen has trained the winners of a Magic Millions 2YO Classic and several Group races but he admits the shock win of Balboa Rocks gave him one of his greatest moments.
Balboa Rocks ($91) was the extreme outsider in the last feature race of the Queensland summer carnival in the $125,000 Listed Sunshine Coast Cup (1400m) on Saturday.
But it made a mockery of his big price-beating Sovereign Nation ($16) by half a length, with a length to Fit For Purpose ($17) in third.
Balboa Rocks was the longest-priced winner of the summer and the second longest-priced feature winner of the past 12 months behind Anton En Avant ($151), who won in May.
A beaming Hansen admitted he gave Balboa Rocks, who is better known as mile to middle-distance horse, little chance against a quality field.
“But he has been bucking his brand off and it was just one of those days when the stars aligned for us,” Hansen said.
“We had planned to give him a short campaign and bring him back for the north Queensland Cups where he won the Mackay Cup last year.
“But we will have to have a bit of look to see what is around. One thing it is great for the owners who have been terrific supporters for the stable.”
Balboa Rock is also a noted wet track horse and Hansen said he hoped the prediction of rain next month was correct.
“Another thing he has a good second-up record and usually goes on in his campaigns,” he said.
Hansen’s best win was the 2015 Magic Millions Classic with Le Chef but he has been a consistent visitor to the winner’s circle in the past decade since moving from Mackay.
Winning jockey Michael Cahill said he had got a little further back than planned but things panned out in the straight.
“When he got clear he really had a dig and it was a good effort,” Cahill said.
Ryan Maloney said Sovereign Nation was on course to get back to his best with a strong finish.
“It was a good run with a big weight and being first-up,” Maloney said.
Dale Smith said Fit For Purpose indicated he was also back on the right track with an improved effort.
