In Brief
- Minute Repeater makes it 15 wins.
- Trainer says horse still acts like a 2YO.
- Minute Repeater win a part of riding treble for Catania.
The win by outsider Minute Repeater in the open handicap in Hobart on Sunday caught most punters by surprise but not his trainer Tegan Keys.
Minute Repeater ($31) gave his rivals a galloping lesson on his way to a half-length win over stablemate Fragment ($3.20) and GeeGee Trendsetter ($7.50).
With Georgie Catania in the saddle, the 10-year-old gelding delivered one of his career-best efforts to land the prize and it was an emotional Keys who led the son of Danbird back to the unsaddling enclosure.
“The horse pretty much saved my life (as a trainer),” Keys said as she held back tears of joy.
“He’s such an old marvel and he still carries on like he’s a two-year-old, that’s why he is still racing.
“He’s a bit of an idiot to train but he’s been a ripper.”
Minute Repeater is owned by Ayana Nishitani, wife of talented trainer and jockey, Yassy Nishitani who trained the gelding early in the horse’s career.
“Yassy had him for a short while but I’ve had him most of the time and all of his 15 wins have been with me.
“He is a genuine legend in my eyes. He’s got his quirks but when you train a horse for so long, you get to know their idiosyncrasies and I know every one of his.
“He is probably getting close to retirement but it’s so hard to take them away from racing when they love it as much as he does.”
It was a great ride from Georgie Catania who ended the 10-race card with a treble.
Catania also won aboard Flourishing Future to give Keys a training double and early on the program the in-form rider scored aboard Hot Wired for premier trainer Scott Brunton.
Flourishing Future ($17) showed her rivals a clean pair of heels on her way to an impressive all-the-way win in the Hazelbros Benchmark 60 Handicap over 1400 metres, holding on to score narrowly from Stelladoni and two-year-old Lady of Fortune.
Hot Wired ($3.40) missed the start by a length and Catania had to urge the three-year-old forward and he quickly made up ground to settle midfield.
The gelded son of Pluck continued to work his way towards the leaders but upon straightening he was still well off the leader Golden Egg ($3.60) that had tried to pinch a winning break.
Outsider Little Hot Missile ($21), from the John Luttrell stable, was sweeping down the outside and looked set to overhaul the leader but just when he was about to storm to the lead, Hot Wired found a bit extra under strong hands and heels riding from Catania.
Hot Wired was one of the best efforts on what was the last meeting to be held in Hobart for nine weeks, which will give the track time to recover from the wear and tear it has endured following the announcement that racing in the state would resume after being shut down on 2 April.
Watch in-form rider Georgie Catania guide Minute Repeater to his 15th career win.