VETERAN trainer Neil Richardson is a firm believer in jockeys occasionally wearing spurs to encourage horses to be competitive and the ploy definitely worked for his five-year-old mare Red Polly.
At Tattersall’s Park today (Sunday) Red Polly ($31.30) defied her exposed form to score an impressive win in the 9/11 Bottle Shop Maiden Plate over 1200m for three-year-olds and upwards.
Red Polly produced an encouraging third first-up from a spell in Hobart last month but at her subsequent outing she finished well down the track at the same venue on a slow track.
But back to a dead surface and with an in-form Shannon Brazil aboard the mare reached the lead early and gave nothing else a chance in the home straight.
Red Polly hit the line well clear of first-starter Atlanta King with Underbelly a closing third
The race start was delayed when Wonder Valley got away from attendants at the barrier and the heavily backed Miss Cherry refused to be loaded. Both horses were declared late scratchings.
Listen to what trainer Neil Richardson had to say about Red Polly’s win – click here .