Heavenly win proves emotional for family
AS THE line of gallopers came streaming down the Cluden Park straight, long-time trainer George Ashford tore the roof off the grandstand.
An animated Ashford was yelling with every step as fiveyear-old Hidden In Heaven loomed up on the outside in the final stages of the Talbot Heatley Lightning Handicap.
The fleet-footed mare would put in an impressive final 100m to beat out longodd rival Platinum Tycoon and topweight Allround Glory in a three-way photo finish.
Trained by Ashford’s daughter, Leanne, the mare was ridden to perfection by the experienced Wanderson D’Avila after sitting just off the pace three back for most of the 1000m trip.
It was an emotional win for the Ashford family, with Hidden In Heaven co-owner Kenny Tobler remaining in Cairns as he recuperates from an operation on his bladder.
Ashford and Tobler, who have shared a bond from when they were school kids, bought the mare together as an $8000 yearling, a sound investment that has gone on to make more than $150,000 in prize money with nine wins from 26 starts.
“He is not feeling too well, Kenny – he has had an operation and hopefully that cheers him up,” Ashford said. “I spoke to him on the phone and he said it cheered him up.
“He has backed me up all the way; he has been with me four or five years now. We were actually friends at school; we sort of drifted and met up again. It has been a really good friendship.
“It is a very emotional (win), but I don’t shed tears. I screamed it home though. If I come to the races and don’t sing out, I might as well stop. I love it.”
The five-year-old mare had won last year’s Cairns Lightning feature, and had threatened her best form earlier this month with a length win at Cluden Park in an open handicap.
“She is an honest little horse; she has had 26 starts for nine wins, and not a lot of horses do that,” Ashford said.
“She is real honest; everything she does is for a purpose. She is that type of horse. She might not be the best horse, but she is honest. She was the best horse today.
“I know she can finish, she has a brilliant finish. When she was a two-year-old, I had her here – she came from last and run third at 100 to 1. I knew she had that finish. I have been trying to get that done and the last two starts she has shown it and finished well.”
It was a tough afternoon for wily Townsville trainer Bill Kenning as $2.15-favourite Beau Jet faded away on the home straight to finish second last, 3.3 lengths off the pace.