Murphy on top with a Home run
LEADING Gold Coast apprentice Jackson Murphy says Straight Home has turned a corner with his maiden win at Aquis Park.
Murphy steered the previously troublesome fouryear-old gelding to victory in the Maiden Plate (1800m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Straight Home ($5.50) began well and settled just off the pace in fifth after throwing his head around early.
He exited the final turn in second before getting the better of the $1.60 favourite Go Dixie down the straight to win by two lengths.
Murphy said the win could be a defining moment for a horse that has been tough to get going in his previous six runs.
“He’s a horse that just needs to relax a bit,” Murphy said. “He is a hot horse and once he learns what racing is
about and how to handle himself properly he will be much better for it.
“He had a good run last start where he finished second (at the Sunshine Coast on May 13).
“He was positive coming into the race but he is still a hard horse to ride.
“He is very touchy in the mouth and tends to get overrated a bit but he relaxed nicely over the 1800m and seemed to be too good for them on the way home.
“He just wanted to run around a bit up the straight.”
Gold Coast trainer David Joice said he believed the lightly raced Home On The Grange gelding would become a handy stayer.
“It was a good effort (on Saturday),” Joice said.
“He still does things wrong like throw his head around early but he is just an outand-out stayer and he was too strong with them with his stamina.
“He is one of those latematuring breeds. We are slowly starting to get him there. He is starting to learn.
“He can run all day so we will get him up over those big trips and see what level he can get to.”
The victory was the first of three straight wins for Murphy, who also won on Tipping ($13) and Sequablur ($2 fav).