Wicked Promise keeps her word for Cole
EVEN with Wicked Promise in last spot before the turn in the $19,500 Bet365 Handicap (1200m) at Fannie Bay yesterday, trainer Phil Cole knew his mare was in with a genuine chance.
And the seven-year-old veteran (Queensland jockey Nathan Day) did just that, with a stunning run on the home straight to finish almost a length ahead of Tayarn Halter’s Hattan Man (Paul Denton) at the post.
“She hit the line very well which was great because she’s not really used to running under a mile or 1500m,” Cole told the Sunday Territorian.
“But her form in Darwin is really good – for 16 starts she’s now had seven wins.
“It was the first proper preparation I’ve had with her myself. Instead of her coming up from South Australia I could prepare her my own way.
“Nathan is a very capable rider who’s ridden in a few meetings up here now.”
Cole is now aiming Wicked Promise for the St Patrick’s Day Cup in March.
“It’s only a couple of months away. She loves the mile distance and the dirt up here,” he said.
Yesterday’s triumph was a good opportunity for Cole to move on from losing former star stable jockey Jarrod Todd, who now rides freelance for Territory trainers.
“Racing always has its ups and downs. That’s part of life. You just have to keep pushing through it,” Cole said.
Other winning horses yesterday were Iron Curtain (trainer Emma Steel, Todd), Real Royal (trainer-jockey Felicia Bergstrand), Isle Of Light (Angela Forster, Day) and Ima Puppet (Garry Lefoe Jr, Vanessa Arnott).