Tough gelding Outraged again showed his affinity with jockey Ric McMahon when he returned to the winner’s circle at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
McMahon was able to get Outraged ($11) to jump from the barriers much better than usual and gave him the run of the race before holding off the fast-finishing Vassal ($3.20) by a neck in the Taste The Difference Handicap (2200m).
McMahon has now won five races on Outraged, including last year’s Townsville Cup.
Trainer Kelly Schweida arrived home from an overseas holiday on Saturday morning and left duties at the Gold Coast to stable foreman Hayley Nichols.
“No one rides Outraged as well as Ric. Outraged can over-race if you fight him and when he jumped so well Ric just lets him go along as he likes,” Nichols said.
“Outraged is a funny horse he takes a few runs to get fit but once he does he holds his form.”
McMahon said he had been content to let Outraged hold his position and he knew he was on the best stayer.
Caulfield-based apprentice Chris Caserta’s decision to chase metropolitan rides in Queensland paid off when Freddie Foxtrot won.
Caserta, who rode 32 winners in Victoria last season, was having his second ride in Queensland after being unplaced at his previous effort at Doomben in July.
“Melbourne on Saturdays are mostly non-claiming races at the moment, so I thought it wouldn’t hurt to head up here,” Caserta said.
“It is good to get off to a winning start. It is a long way home if you don’t get a win.”
A return to a softish track helped Miss Exfactor win the Three-Year-Old Handicap (1200m)
At her previous outingt Miss Exfactor was an odds-on favourite but missed the start when third at Ipswich.
“We have worked on her barrier manners and she was a lot better today. But the big difference was the rain this week which left the track soft,” trainer Tony Gollan said.
“I will probably give her an ease up and bring her back fro races over the Magic Millions carnival as she is unbeaten on the Gold Coast track.”
