Gayna Williams doesn’t venture to Gundagai often, but making Tuesday’s six-hour roundtrip from Bathurst into the Southern Districts paid off.
Connections had to wait until the last event on the seven-race program, but they were rewarded with a win when Minnewater (Michael Heagney, $31) triumphed in the 1000m Class One Handicap.
Heagney showed some nous to trek two and three wide from gate nine, and the veteran jockey timed his run to perfection, winning by half-a-length from the Donna Scott-trained Miller Time (Simon Miller, $7.50), while a length back in third was the Joe Cleary-trained Pretty Vegas (Ruby Haylock, $2.80).
“It was a good ride, and Michael did say he thought he had left the run too late, but his time could not have been any more perfect,” Williams told NSW Country and Picnic Racing.
Williams explained that the trip to Gundagai with Minnewater and stablemate Sollozando (Richard Benlsey, $101), which finished down the track in the same event, was due to a suitable race popping up.
“We’ve only been there twice, and we did intend to go there once before, but the races were called off,” Williams said.
“It worked out, as there was Class One 1000m, and it was the right race, right distance, and everything lined up.”
The Bathurst galloper was a big drifter in the markets, easing out from $15 to $31 at start time, and Williams admitted that she didn’t go to Gundagai thinking the Headwater mare was a sure thing.
“I wouldn’t say I was confident,” Williams said.
“It is a different area for us, and we’re unfamiliar with the horses and form.
“Plus, they talked up a fair few horses in the race that they thought would go well.”
Still, connections celebrated the decisive win, making the long trip back home all the merrier.
“It never seems much of a trip on the way home when you get a winner,” Williams laughed, “You generally accept it more readily.”
Williams and her hard-working team will now prepare for a big weekend, with both Overlord (Hannah Williams) and Tags (Reece Jones) going around in the $120,000 Class Three Highway Handicap (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday before sending a big team to Dubbo on Sunday for the club’s Dubbo Cup and Sprint Prelude meeting.
Gundagai results, click here.
Rosehill Gardens fields, click here.
Dubbo nominations, click here.
