Trainer Tim Martin is waiting on rain-affected tracks for King Darci despite the the gelding winning on unfavourable ground at Rosehill.
King Darci bounced back from an unplaced run first-up at Hawkesbury on a firm track to nose out Special Missile as the pair fought to the line in the Australian Hall Of Fame Handicap (1500m).
“He was very tough, he’s tough to get past,” Martin said.
Adam Hyeronimus positioned King Darci ($16) on the inside and the four-year-old had just enough stamina to deny Special Missile ($3).
The $2.80 favourite Up ‘N’ Rolling was a long head third.
Martin said King Darci would now rest up to recover from another jarring run.
“He just feels the tracks a bit. I won’t run him for three or four weeks now,” he said.
“When we get a soft track I’ll be really confident with him.”
Hyeronimus was confident he had kept Special Missile and Blake Shinn at bay.
“I was surprised when Blake’s horse headed me but once I changed hands with the whip, he really responded,” he said.
