Given the heartache Gavin Bedgood experienced with Hedged early in his debut campaign with him, he is not particularly keen to turn out the sprinter now that he is in winning form.
The gelding recorded his first win for the Cranbourne trainer – and his first victory in 18 months – when he relished a clear run in transit to score a dominant win in the Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m) at Sandown on Boxing Day.
The victory came at Hedged’s fifth run for the camp, following several luckless efforts, and he is likely to run again in this Saturday’s Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.
Bedggood knows the son of Capitalist will need a break at some stage, but he is happy with the routine he’s found with him and is confident they can go at least one more.
“We sent him down the beach post-Cranbourne for a week and he thrived off that,” Bedggood said.
“We’ve just tried to replicate that. Monday morning (after Sandown) he got on the float and he came home on Friday.
“He’s very fit now, so we don’t have to do much with him. It’s just one little pipe-opener in between runs just to clean his wind up and that seems to be working well.
“As soon as we’re not happy with him he’ll go for a break – you can’t keep going forever – but while he looks well and he’s doing well in the stable we’ll keep him going.”
Saturday’s $200,000 race will be his first appearance at Flemington since the Group 3 Rising Fast Stakes (1200m) last spring, when he was held up at a crucial stage but got going late to beat home all bar Caballus.
His only other starts on Flemington’s famous straight strip realised victory in a three-year-old handicap and a fifth placing in the Sunlight Classic won by Estriella, both over 1100m.
“I wouldn’t think the straight holds any concerns,” Bedggood said.
“I thought Harry (Coffey) executed the ride really well last start and understood the horse well and found a happy medium with him.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how they pair up again and hopefully we can continue the association.”
Hedged was one of 16 nominations for the Standish Handicap with Maharba and Aviatress headlining his list of potential rivals.
