The next year of Green Beret’s racing career promises to be much more profitable than the chequered one he left behind at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Off the scene since for 14 months with a list of problems trainer Joe Pride says is too long to properly document, Green Beret made a winning comeback in the Husson @ Vinery Handicap (1100m).
Showcasing Pride’s skill as a horseman but only partly restoring his faith in a veterinary procedure that has become commonplace in racing, Green Beret ($6) rallied after sharing the lead to beat the equal favourite Shelford ($4.75) by a neck.
Angel Bee ($26) closed late to finish a nose away third.
“I never had the chance to extend him out in distance and find out what he’s all about but I’m sure over the next 12 months we will,” Pride said.
Pride revealed a throat operation was the latest obstacle Green Beret has had to overcome to make it back to the races.
“You haven’t got enough room on the page to write what has gone wrong with him,” Pride said.
“The most recent thing was the wind operation. I’m a bit sceptical about them but this one has worked.”
Green Beret’s victory started a winning run for jockey Christian Reith who ended the midweek meeting with a treble.
Wordplay, meanwhile, gave jockey Peter Robl a late scare before confirming spring plans in the TAB Iphone Maiden Plate (1400m).
The half-sister to Victoria Derby and BMW winner Fiveandahalfstar unwound from the second half of the field and seemed set for a regulation victory after rounding up the leaders.
“She was going to win by a couple of lengths but as soon as she got to them all she wanted to do was shut down underneath me,” Robl said.
In spite of her obvious reluctance to finish her job, trainer Anthony Cummings insists Wordplay is ready for longer races.
With the VRC Oaks her grand final, Cummings will take Wordplay through the Spring Stakes at Newcastle and the Flight Stakes at Randwick before sending her to Melbourne.
“We won the Spring Stakes with Lovemelikearock a few years ago and this filly is up to a similar standard,” Cummings said.
