In his first ride since the death of his father Peter, Beau Mertens has scored an emotional victory aboard Anahita at Sandown.
A seven-time Group 1 winning jockey, Peter Mertens died following a battle with pancreatic cancer on the weekend aged 58.
His former champion apprentice jockey son stood down from riding until Sandown on Wednesday and at his first ride guided Anahita to a three-quarter length win in the ive > Handicap (1300m).
Mertens said the family had been inundated with support from the racing fraternity since the announcement of his father’s death on Sunday.
“Like I said on Twitter, I could not begin to thank enough all the support the family have got over the last couple of days,” Mertens said.
“It has been very difficult for us all, but as this industry does, they all come together when someone is down.
“It’s so heartwarming to see and I’m sure my family feels the exact same way, getting to see all the memories that dad produced on the racecourse and especially the stories that I’ve been getting from a lot of people over the past few days.”
Mertens is building a good relationship with Anahita, having had three rides on the filly for two wins and a second.
He partnered with Anahita to win on heavy ground at Ballarat two starts back and was confident the filly would run well when the rain descended on Sandown early in the meeting.
“At Ballarat she had a good look around and didn’t know how to put a field away, but on the back of that win she has gained a lot of confidence and she really stretched out today,” Mertens said.
“She wasn’t waiting for them, she really found the line and she’s really coming into her own now and learning what it’s all about.
“I know her very well. I got into a lovely spot, and she just tracked through that heavy ground like I knew she would.
“When I hit the front and accelerated, she really hit the line and I had a big smile on my face that I was going to do it for him.
“He was definitely riding with me on that one.”
