Jockey Reece Wheeler rode a tactically perfect race to boot homeBrad Kingsbury
PAKENHAM galloper Etched in Gold scored a gutsy win in Saturday’s $18,000 Marong Cup at Bendigo, after a near perfect ride by talented jockey Reece Wheeler.
It was Wheeler’s first ride on the sevenyearold and, despite several disappointing performances in the leadup to the 2200metre race, he said Etched in Gold felt strong from the outset.
“His form read a bit ordinary, but he is a very capable horse on his day and he raced very well yesterday,” he said between races at Pakenham on Sunday.
Locally based trainer Chris Vilcins set the gelding for the Burumbeet Cup over 1800 metres on New Year’s Day, but it only managed a plodding fifth place.
That was followed by an even effort to run sixth over 2100 metres at Sandown on 31 January, before the weekend success.
“There was plenty of genuine speed in the race and that helped a lot,” Wheeler said.
“When the speed slowed up I didn’t want to be left back so I decided to roll with them and make them catch me.
“He’s a tough, honest galloper and even though I hadn’t ridden him before, I’d seen him race plenty of times and I knew he could tough it out.”
The victory brought Etched in Gold’s record to eight wins with six placings from 44 starts and Wheeler said that the way he raced suited a distance in excess of 2000 metres.
“He’s a good old horse and it’s good to get a reward like that. He ground it out well and I think a 2400 to 2600metre race is probably his go now.”
