Honest galloper Always Hapi posted a career milestone when he powered home to a narrow victory at Warrnambool.
The seven-year-old has now earned more than $200,000 after he gave the leaders a big start turning for home to land Thursday’s Cri-tech Plumbing BM64 Hcp (1400m).
Jockey John Allen used all his cunning to steer a path through the field, with Always Hapi making up close to eight lengths from second last in the home straight.
John said he told trainer Vincent Malady pre-race he would ride for luck on the gelding, and the race went to script with the veteran jockey changing course at critical time to secure a passage between runners.
“The race had got well away on us, and I was stuck in behind three horses that weren’t going anywhere,” John said.
“I had to be a bit patient and wait until Steven (Vella on Bonnaroo) got going around me and I followed him.
“When he went out, there was opening back to the inside, so I elected to come back in.
“We kind of made our runs together but I felt the camera angle might be a bit deceiving as I was behind him and went past him, so I thought I had him on the line.
“It probably helped us that the leaders had overdone it a little bit up front, but he picked up well and got to the line strongly.”
Always Hapi ($6) held off Bonnaroo ($7.50) by a head with third-placed Miso ($7.50), three quarters of a length away.
The son of American Pharoah had been threatening to win a race this campaign with placings at his previous three starts at Ballarat, Bendigo and Cranbourne.
“He has been consistent and deserved the win,” Vincent said.
“He’s a horse that loves soft tracks and, while they upgraded the track today, they were still getting into it a bit, so it certainly suited him.”
Putch Puyat who lives in the Philippines, owns Always Hapi who was a $50,000 yearling and has now earned $207,295 with six wins and 13 placings from 38 starts.
He was having first start at Warrnambool and posted his other wins at Sandown, Geelong Bendigo, Ballarat, Echuca, and Donald.