John and son Tom Sadler have combined to win the Easter Cup with Observational
John Sadler has described combining with his son to win the Easter Cup with Observational as one of the bigger thrills he has had in racing.
Observational gave 22-year-old jockey Tom Sadler the first stakes win of his career when he surged clear in the straight in Saturday’s Group Three 2000m feature at Caulfield.
“It’s a great thrill … it’s probably one of my bigger thrills in racing actually,” trainer John Sadler said.
“It’s a really great feeling. It’s Tom’s first Group winner and to ride it for me is really exciting.
“He’s working terribly hard. A couple of good trainers are giving him an opportunity and it was only a matter of time, that happening.”
Observational won the Listed Golden Mile at Bendigo at his most recent start but he carried 54kg that day which was just below Tom Sadler’s weight range.
Craig Newitt guided the gelding to victory that day but the connections recalled Sadler for Saturday’s Easter Cup, with Sadler riding Observational at 55kg and he punched the air as he crossed the line 1-1/4 lengths in front.
“It’s great,” Tom Sadler said.
“I’ve just been going OK but I was just really hoping for something big like that to happen.
“I’ve been working hard enough and hoping for an opportunity like this and it’s just great that it’s come off.”
To do it on a horse trained by his father made the stakes race break through even more special.
“If I was going to get one I think it was always going to be for him,” Sadler said.
“I can’t thank him enough. It’s fantastic.”
It was announced Observational who jumped at $9 with Luxbet.com.au would be ridden forward but the six-year-old ended up just worse than midfield, racing three-wide with cover.
He travelled up strongly around the home turn in ominous fashion and then raced clear passing the 200m.
Second Bullet ran to second, but could only get to within 1-1/4 lengths of the winner on the line while Double Bluff was another 1-1/2 lengths away third.
The Easter Cup meeting brought to a close the race calling career of broadcaster Greg Miles, who has called a record 36 Melbourne Cups.
The final race on Saturday, won by Sadaqa, was named the ‘Bravo Greg Miles’ in recognition of the race caller.
