Stirring gallop by Hugo

HUGO has always been a bit of a character around Brendan McShane’s Broadmarsh stables, which is why there is always a bit more emotion involved every time he wins.

Such was the case in Launceston on Wednesday night, where Hugo caused an upset when he held on to score a game win in a benchmark 72 handicap over 1420m.

In a small field of six, he was allowed to settle worse than midfield by Victorian apprentice Nathan Punch, while the heavily backed favourite Orange River led and set a solid tempo.

But when the favourite started to capitulate in the home straight, the challengers made their charges, with Hugo and Minute Repeater emerging to fight it out.

Fragment (Craig Newitt) enjoyed a cushy run on the rails behind the leaders, but when Streetwise Savoire was set alight to race three-wide outside the leaders, Newitt was left with nowhere to go and with a handful of horse.

He was eventually able to ease Fragment wide and he charged home, but by then Hugo had stolen a big enough break and held on by a halfhead.

“The horse has been in work since early August but he’s only ever had a rider on him four times — three times at trials and [Wednesday],” McShane said.

“He spends his time on a treadmill or in the eater walker. I’ve had to wait until now to run him because he’s not a horse who handles the Devonport track and this is the first suitable benchmark race available.

“Hugo was first-up from a five-month spell so he will no doubt take improvement from this run.”

The horse has had 40 starts for seven wins and 19 minor placings and has won $130,000 in stakes.

Brighton trainer Royston Carr had a good night at the office on Wednesday, emerging from the meeting with two winners and a second from the four stable tenants he took to the track.

Toricain won a 1620m maiden to signal his arrival as a possible Derby prospect and Mister Songman made it two wins from as many starts when he toyed with his rivals to easily win a class two handicap over 1220m. Mister Songman (Your Song-Kat’s Clause) debuted with a win on a heavy track in Launceston late last month, but this latest effort suggested he could measure up to some of the better quality three-year-old races later this season.

“Mister Songman ticks all the right boxes, so we’ll just progress to the good races and see where it takes him,” Carr said.

Goodbye Lonesome made his way into a few black books when he worked home well to finish a game second to Mr America in a 1420m class two handicap and Carr’s only other runner, The Greatness, came from last turning for home to finish an eye-catching fourth in a 1220m maiden.

“I am sure The Greatness has a win in him and Goodbye Lonesome is ready to win a couple,” he said.