TALENTED two-year-old Concrete Johnny lived up to the high expectations set by his owners and trainer when he broke his maiden status at The TOTE Racing Centre in Launceston last night.
Concrete Johnny was resuming from a short break and was racing under lights for the first time on a strange track but he handled the task like a seasoned professional.
With leading apprentice Siggy Carr in the saddle the Terry Evans-trained gelding made the most of his inside barrier to lead and he then had to tolerate Jonolly Lass and Cookie Jar at his outside for the first 400 metres.
But when Carr called on the gelding for the big effort at the top of the straight he forged clear and hit the line with over a length to spare over Jonolly Lass with first-starter Udayan a nose astern.
“I fully expected him to do what he did tonight and hopefully it’s the start of some good things for the horse through the carnival,” Evans said.
“He has done really well since his short break from racing and if he develops as I expect then he could be very good later on,” he said.
Concrete Johnny is a full brother to Inner Warrior that won this season’s Listed Tasmanian Guineas and he also won the Sires Produce (1400m) last season.
“The first time I ever asked to put this horse under pressure he galloped with his brother Inner Warrior and he beat him,” Evans said.
“So we’ve always know that he has plenty of natural ability.”
“They are both very nice horses – a pleasure to do anything with and more like kids’ ponies,” he said.
Carr was very pleased with the two-year-old’s effort.
“The plan was to take la sit but he jumped so well I had to revert to plan B and let him lead,” Carr said.
Evan said Concrete Johnny would most likely progress to the $100,000 Gold Sovereign Stakes in Launceston on Launceston Cu day (Feb 26).