LONGFORD trainer John Blacker set sights on winning today’s Golden Mile at Spreyton with his handy middle distance performer The Producer and walked away from the meeting confident the gelding would be a genuine winning chance in next month’s $100,000 Devonport Cup.
The Producer progressed his way through the lower grades last season winning the Longford Cup on New Year Day before running in the 2014 Devonport Cup.
He was a victim of circumstances in that race but still managed to finish a creditable eighth of 15 and beaten five lengths.
He resumed from a spell in late September with a handy effort at Devonport and followed up with two minor placings in Launceston before missing a place in the Clarence Cup in
Hobart.
But today the six-year-old gelding was well ridden by Kim Moore who had him placed midfield on the rails and kept improving along the fence from the 800-metre mark.
Race leader Second Dozen travelled well on a solid tempo and his rider Georgie Catania tried to pinch the race at the top of the straight by kicking five lengths clear and looked to have a winning break.
But under strong riding The Producer rallied at the business end of the race and gained the upper hand in the shadows of the post with Genuine Lad running on strongly out wide to finish third.
Listen to what trainer John Blacker had to say about The Producer’s Golden Mile win.