After a bit of a wipe-out for most punters in the first race, Humbolt Current, the $1.60 favourite (Sportsbet), got one back for punters at Doomben when he saluted in the second race, An Open Handicap over 2000m.
The six-year-old Fastnet Rock gelding had been well-supported in his previous start when going down to Romakash over 2406m.
His followers stuck fast here as the Chris Waller trained, Jim Byrne guided runner dropped back to the 2000m trip and they were well rewarded as Humbolt Colt, who was last but only three lengths back in the approach to the home turn, kicked on to score by just shy of a quarter-of-a length after taking most of the straight to run down the leaders.
This was Humbolt Current’s eighth win from thirty-four starts. In the process he pushed his prize-money earnings past the $400 000 mark.
“I’ve had a few chances for the stable, but we hadn’t been able to get one over the line,” said Byrne. “Thankfully today we got there.
‘There were no real specific instructions other than to switch the horse off. His pattern is getting back. With the small field he was always going to be right on their backs ready to sprint.
“Having said that, he hasn’t got a dashing sprint … but he just keeps grinding away.
“The leader kicked on which made it difficult for any back-markers, so it was a good effort to get the job done.”
