News

Hyland lured by Inglis VOBIS Gold cash

19th Jun 2015

CountryRacing.com.au - by Bridget Cook - Thursday 18, June 2015

Pat Hyland has his sights set on some big spring targets for his talented youngster Gredington, but couldn’t resist starting his campaign early to chase some lucrative prizemoney on offer at his home track this weekend.

The Magnus colt headlines a capacity field of 12 two-year-olds for Sunday’s $100,000 Inglis VOBIS Gold Plate (1000 metres) at Cranbourne, which also carries $30,000 in Super VOBIS bonuses.

Hyland said while they were already looking ahead with the two-year-old, the money on offer was too good not to have a shot at this weekend.

“He’s feeling very well, but he is first up so he’s not completely wound up yet,” he said.

“We want him ready for the spring, but it was too tempting to see a race like this for horses purchased at the Inglis VOBIS Gold yearling sales.

“We planned this awhile ago and thought it would be a good starting point for him.

“I’m hoping he’s got a long spring ahead of him; he’s a horse that I think has the potential to be a Guineas horse.

“The money for Sunday was a huge incentive to have a crack at first up.”

Hyland purchased Gredington at the 2014 Inglis VOBIS Gold Yearling Sale for $21,000 for the Racing Women syndication group, which was established by his daughter Jo Hyland, along with Siobhan Miller and Brooke Humphries.

More than 20 women have shares in the galloper, who has already paid his way collecting $56,600 in prizemoney in his first preparation earlier this year.

The colt won on debut at Cranbourne in January, before taking his place in the colts and geldings Blue Diamond Prelude where he finished eighth.

He then went onto run second at Sandown Hillside in February, before a solid effort last start in the Group 2 Sires Produce Stakes for a fourth place finish behind Jameka and Lazumba.

Hyland said he was impressed with what he had seen from the youngster so far and hoped it would be a sign of things to come.

“He’s grown a lot since that prep, and is taller and bigger, so he should just get better,” he said.

“We threw him in the deep end a bit putting him in the Blue Diamond Prelude, and he raced great but was suffering from a bit of greenness.

“We’ve put blinkers on him now and he should race in blinkers throughout the spring.

“He’s feeling good and I think he’s a great chance on Sunday.

“The first-starters can be the snag, because you just don’t know with them.

“If he’s beaten through lack of a run, then so be it. At least we’ll know he’s on his way back.”

Gredington’s large, all woman ownership group put on a celebration worthy of a Group 1 win when they cheered Gredington home for his maiden win at Cranbourne.

Hyland said if one thing’s for sure, it’s that the celebrations will be just as big if the colt can salute again on Sunday.

“They’ll all be there; there’s a car load even making their way down from Albury Wodonga,” he said.

“He’ll have a big cheer squad and if he can get the win, he’ll definitely have a big welcoming back!”

The $100,000 Inglis VOBIS Gold Plate is one of two feature races at Cranbourne on Sunday, with the TAB.com.au Winter Championship Series Heat 5 also on the card.

Racing will get underway at 11.48am, with a Cranbourne Harness Racing meeting to follow straight after, starting at 5.53pm.