Handy galloper My Mate Sonny ended a frustrating couple of years with a narrow victory at Donald.
The gelding was on a 19-race losing streak, which was surprising given his last win nearly two years ago was in record time at Warrnambool in January 2023.
However, he has had his share of excuses, including a throat issue which hindered his last campaign.
First up this preparation, he had no luck when forced to race wide at Terang, but he had been competitive in his four starts leading up to Sunday’s Leading Teams BM64 Hcp (1620m), including placings at Geelong and Bendigo.
“His throat impacted him a bit last campaign, but this preparation he is nice and clean-winded,” trainer Vincent Malady said.
Ridden by apprentice Sarah Field, My Mate Sonny ($3.90) settled second and improved outside the leader Stormstout from the 800 metres before taking the lead near the home turn.
Early in the home straight the eight-year-old broke clear and held off a late inside challenge from $1.80 favourite Easy Dun to score by a neck, while Flashlight ($14) ran home from last to finish third 3-1/4 lengths away.
Sarah, who earlier this month won at Warrnambool on Easy Jay for the stable, said the riding instructions for My Mate Sonny were “pretty simple”.
“They wanted me to have him outside the leader, travelling comfortably, and he switched off nicely,” Sarah said.
“I was told he could be a little bit one-paced, so I was happy to let him improve from the 600m even though he was left by himself a long way out.
“I knew Declan (Bates on Easy Dun) would be coming late but he held on.”
My Sonny Mate formerly raced in Port Lincoln where he won eight races and another at Morphettville before he joined the Malady stable in December 2022.
He underlined his ability by winning his first start for Vincent at Warrnambool in the Port Fairy Cup for Darren Williams and his co-owners, breaking a 20-year-old course record.
He has now won 11 of his 55 races and $244,970.