A horse his jockey describes as ditzy has set himself up for a big pay day by winning the Highway Handicap at Rosehill.
Saturday’s win was Suncraze’s second consecutive win in races for country-trained horses and puts him in the running for the $200,000 Anniversary Highway at Randwick on October 14.
Trained at Tamworth by Melanie O’Gorman, Suncraze won his debut on his home track in August last year before putting together six frustrating consecutive seconds.
The last of those was at Warwick Farm with Corey Brown aboard but the jockey said he had worked him out as much as he could, allowing him to steer him to his latest two wins.
“He is still four different horses in a 1200-metre race,” Brown said.
“He is nervous, silly and bit ditzy but he’s got talent.”
Sent out the $2.50 favourite, Suncraze settled midfield with Brown getting him to the outside before the turn.
He had a job to get past Don’t Give A Damn ($4.60) but managed it by a half head with the pair four lengths in front of third-placed Levee Bank ($41).
“The 1200 metres was a bit short for him. I ‘ve always thought he would be a 1400 to 1600-metre horse,” O’Gorman said.
“But this race fitted in and I’m confident he will get a run now in the Anniversary Highway.
“We will give him a 1200-metre trial at Newcastle ten days before the Randwick race and that will be perfect.
“Corey is a brilliant rider and he knows what to do on him now so it’s just a question of keeping him ticking over.”
