Sale fail has rewards
TOOWOOMBA trainer Lindsay Hatch will make the trip down the mountain with four-year-old For My Annie who is looking to keep his unbeaten record intact today at Aquis Park.
The sprinter, unbeaten after three starts, lines up in the Pierata @ Aquis in 2020 BenchMark 65 Handicap (900m).
For My Annie was sent out for a spell after completing his hat-trick with a win in a 1200m Class 3 Plate on his home track on December 14.
Hatch nearly lost the promising sprinter to Hong Kong interests but when the deal fell though he put For My Annie back into work.
He expects him to be hard to beat today.
“He got vetted to go to Hong Kong but failed the (examination),” Hatch said.
For My Annie won a 1050m Maiden on debut in October last year followed by a win in a 1000m Class 1 Plate.
Hatch said he had a high opinion of For My Annie and that his latest win at Toowoomba was exceptional.
“I think he was well placed his first start in a race. He didn’t beat much but then he won a three-year-old race and won it quite well,” he said.
“I think his last win … they don’t do what he did in Toowoomba.
“He started from the outside alley, crossed the face of the field and really run along in front and won as he liked.
“You don’t see them do what he did at his third start in a race and it was in a Class 3. It is hard to win anywhere in any company, let alone jumping a couple of classes. He went from winning a Maiden and then two starts to winning a Class 3 from the outside alley up the hill in Toowoomba.
“(Jockey Josh Oliver) gassed him out of the gates, he rested him in front and he just won as he liked.”
“I thought he was a pretty serious horse then.”
For My Annie was an acceptor in a 1050m BenchMark
72 Handicap at Doomben on Wednesday but Hatch decided to take the easier option in the BenchMark 65 Handicap today.
Hatch has given For My Annie three jumpouts in preparation for his return to the racetrack.
He admits the four-yearold Shaft stallion is carrying a bit extra condition but is still forward enough to handle the 900m first-up.
Claiming apprentice Minonette Kennedy will have her first ride for Hatch and her 3kg allowance will held alleviate For My Annie’s allocated 61.5kg.
“She rides in Toowoomba on a Saturday and she has continued to improve as a rider,” Hatch said of Kennedy, who is apprenticed to Deagon trainer Neil Hocking.
“It is very hard to get a good 3kg kid today but she is as good as you would get going around.”
Hatch has also accepted with two runners in the Dubious @ Aquis in 2020 Class 4 Plate (1400m) with Luke Dittman to ride McMahon and Andrew Mallyon to partner My Belly Button.
“McMahon is first-up but he is going terrific and he will acquit himself well and My Belly Button has been racing really good,” Hatch said.