A change of race gear and fierce early pace helped smart three-year-old Raging Pole return to the winners list at the Gold Coast.
Raging Pole ($16) charged home to grab Say Haya ($17) in the final 50 metres of the Aquis Three-Year-Old Handicap (1200m).
The gelding is named after the late Wallaby prop Stan Pilecki and is raced by his son Bart who was also a representative rugby union player.
Raging Pole was well beaten at his previous start in a Listed race and the Tony and Maddy Sears training partnership elected to put a crossover nose band on him for Saturday’s race.
“We fiddled around with his gear and it was a drop back in class today,” Maddy Sears said.
“As you saw when the pace is on he can really get home very quickly. Dad said to me on the home turn he was going to win and it worked out.”
She said the race sectionals showed the race was run to suit with the leader Le Palmier carving out the first 600m in 33.98 seconds.
Raging Pole lifted his total earnings to just under $200,000 and Team Sears will chase more QTIS bonus races with him.
Jockey Jim Orman agreed the fast earlier pace had set up the race for Raging Pole.
The Sears camp has supported Orman since his days as an apprentice and he gets a special buzz riding winners for them.
“They do a great job and always let you ride your own race,” he said.
