“We’re very happy … it’s onwards and upwards,” trainer Danielle Chapman said after Haystacks Calhoun made a successful return to racing with a gutsy win at Kyneton last week.
Off the scene since just before Christmas, the four-year-old was impressive in carrying topweight of 64kg and starting from the outside barrier on his home course.
“He’s had a throat operation and a spell, and it was a very tough win,” the pleased trainer said.
Named after a famous heavyweight wrestler, ‘Haystacks’ was ridden in fine style by Michael Poy, who had irked punters with his misjudgement in the previous race.
“He’s a very capable young rider … he’s had two wins from four rides for us,” Chapman said.
“It was a perfect ride today.”
A bargain-basement buy for the Chapman family from North Woodend, Haystacks Calhoun chalked up his third race win at his 12th start, taking earnings over the $63,600 mark.
He edged out the Mick Sell-trained Magnum Bullet to win narrowly.
DESERVED WIN
Earlier in the day, the George Osborne-trained Magnalicious broke through for her maiden win.
The four-year-old mare will now go for a well-earned spell.
Starting a very short odds-on favourite, Magnalicious was superbly ridden by in-form Alana Kelly, getting up in the last few strides.
At one stage in her career it was feared the mare may not recover from injury, and her painstaking comeback is one of those good news stories in racing.
In this race, Mick Sell’s five-year-old Skyler’s Princess finished a close second at her debut run.
