Image: Lance Fearne.
Few punters found him at $26, but the Ross Lavis-trained Knights Armour defied his big quote when winning the 2120m Class One Maiden Plate at Goulburn on Friday.
Ridden by Nick Heywood, the rising five-year-old jumped nicely from gate three and eventually sat outside the early leader Ruberto (Jay Ford, $11) from the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou yard.
Turning for home, Heywood took the Braidwood galloper to the lead, and the pair ran through the line strongly, winning by 1.9 lengths from the Robert Quinn-trained Thoughtful Women (Brandon Lerena, $3.30), while Ruberto hung on gamely for third, beaten 2.87 lengths.
For Lavis – a farmer who only trains one horse – it was his second-ever winner, with Knights Armour delivering him his first victory at Queanbeyan in January.
Not surprisingly, connections were thrilled with the result.
“It was a big win, well, for us; he’s the only one we have in work,” Lavis said after the win.
“(I’m) just hobby training; I’m a cattle farmer, so this fella just trots around the cattle at home and keeps us going.”
The Casino Prince gelding out of Cakewalkin has been a work in progress, but now nine starts into his career and racing well over distance, it appears Lavis and his owners will have some fun.
“He’s lightly raced for a four-year-old that’s rising five; we took a fair bit of time to work him out, and we’re slowly getting there,” Lavis said.
Heywood, riding very well since returning from injury, was good in the saddle and earned praise from Lavis.
“He was very good, and Nick did a tremendous job and followed instructions exactly,” Lavis said.
Heywood was just as happy to land the win, which was a pick-up ride after Jeff Penza was left indisposed following a race fall at Wyong on Thursday.
“He’s obviously been a bit stiff lately,” Heywood said.
“I was fortunate enough to pick up the ride, and my condolences to Jeff Penza after his fall, but it worked out perfectly, and he was able to jump, sit outside the leader, and he didn’t do too much work, and he can sustain a long run, and that’s what we did.”
It was a good day’s racing at Goulburn, with the eight-race program delivering exciting results.
Wodonga trainer Craig Widdison prepared a winning double, with Lunar Solar (Holly Durnan, $5.50) winning the 1000m Benchmark 58 Handicap for fillies and mares and Doogan’s Design (Nick Souquet, $6) winning the 1000m Maiden Handicap
For all results, click here.
Goulburn race again on July 7, and for more information, click here.
