Late call-up dishes up win to Fancourt
A LATE call-up has delivered jockey Alannah Fancourt a win she believed would never come at the Gold Coast.
Fancourt replaced hoop Ryan Wiggins in the saddle on Liam Birchley’s In Two Minds for Saturday’s Maiden Plate (1300m) at the Gold Coast Turf Club and the move paid off after securing a tight win over Toby Edmonds’ Duvessa.
Duvessa missed the start and trailed by at least four lengths early before coming within a head of victory.
Fancourt said the win was a bonus after receiving the offer to ride the four-year-old a day earlier. “I think the horse had a few jockey changes in the 24 hours before the race so it was a good pick up,” Fancourt said.
A third over 1200m at the Sunshine Coast two starts ago was the closest In Two Minds had come to winning previously and Fancourt thought the gelding’s winless run was destined to continue mid-race.
“The horse has been going quite well, besides last start (sixth),” Fancourt said. “He has shown ability. I was told to ride him positive but he wasn’t handling the lead situation so it was good when the leader (Phoenix Shadow) crossed us, he got to travel a bit. The horse didn’t feel like he was ever going to win but once he pulled away he just got to the line on time. He should go on from that with confidence.”
Kane Anderton, one of Birchley’s co-foreman, was trackside for the run and praised the gelding’s ability to finally cash in on his talent.
“It was a very good run. He has shown a lot of promise in track work and he pieced it together (on Saturday),” Anderton said.
“Sometimes he gets a bit stressed but he seemed more relaxed and happy.”
Anderton said there was no set plan in place for In Two Minds, with the stable happy to place the horse where they believe he will be comfortable.