It might have been a been a summer handicap but the victory of Shoreham at Caulfield means more to trainer Saab Hasan than a Group One victory.
After an absence of four years from the winners circle, Shoreham registered his fourth career win in Saturday’s Clanbrooke Racing Handicap.
Ridden by apprentice Ben Thompson, Shoreham ($13) scored a half-length victory over Guizot ($9) with Shenandoah ($10) a long-neck away third.
Shoreham was having his 44th start on Saturday since his last win, a Listed race at Flemington in September, 2013.
Beginning his career with Hasan, Shoreham had a stint with Gerald Ryan in Sydney and Les Kelly in Queensland before finding his way back to original trainer’s Flemington base.
“This horse means a lot,” Hasan said.
“He was going to put us on the map until he was taken away from us so it’s personal satisfaction to see him get over the line today.
“It’s not a Group One but it’s probably one of my proudest moments.
“He’s been placed in Group Twos and Group Threes and he was clearly the class horse of the race but they gave him no respect because he hadn’t won for four years.”
Hasan contacted owner Les Cowell on the eve of a Group One race in Queensland when trained by Kelly wanting to buy the gelding.
But Cowell wasn’t interested in parting with the now eight-year-old, so Hasan offered 12 months training fees for a 50 per cent share in the gelding.
“True to his word he paid $2500 to scratch him and three days later he was in my stable,” Hasan said.
After three runs in May and June back in Melbourne, Hasan gave Shoreham a spell before starting over with the gelding.
“He’s never gone better,” Hasan said.
“I had been training him for the Melbourne Cup for three years but he’s not really a genuine stayer.
“This is the second time I’ve trained the horse second-up and I was oozing confidence.”
Hasan said he would like to give Shoreham one more start, over 2000m, before a break and a winter campaign.
“He’s loves wet tracks so I don’t see the point in bashing him around on hard tracks,” he said.
