Trainer’s Hotham debut
Plan comes together for Gold Coaster Sweeney
GOLD Coast’s Josh Sweeney was sitting on his couch watching last year’s The Hotham when he hatched a plan to make his training debut at the same race 12 months on.
Sweeney’s training licence was approved on Monday and despite the ink barely being dry on the paperwork, Gold Coast’s newest trainer is poised to take part in the richest maiden race in Victoria today at Ballarat.
The son of legendary Canberra jockey Kevin Sweeney will compete in the $75,000 The Hotham (1200m) with Mental As Anything.
Gold Coast jockey Ryan Plumb will jump from barrier 2 with the six-year-old mare.
“I actually watched last year’s Hotham on the couch,’’ Sweeney said. “What a fantastic idea for a race and with great prize money for the battlers. I thought it would be a terrific way for me to start my training career.
“Everyone needs a kick along and if I could have a runner in the Hotham I thought it might get me in the spotlight a bit and possibly get my name out there.’’
Sweeney aimed to have two runners, but another horse he tried to buy was retired. He eventually found Mental As Anything, which cost him and a group of mates $4500.
The mare only has to finish in the first 10 and connections will get a return of $3000.
The Hotham is the polar opposite of the $13 million The Everest, on the same day at Randwick.
While racing’s biggest stakeholders pay $600,000 for a slot in The Everest, The Hotham is designed to give battlers a chance at good prizemoney. The field was selected on reverse ballot criteria, meaning a maiden with the most starts and least amount of prizemoney got preference.