Making his first start since finishing down the track at Ballarat back in November, the striking black gelding Great Again toughed it out in a slogging finish to Saturday’s Listed Hilton Nicholas Straight Six (1200m) at Flemington.
The former West Australian headed east after winning a pair of Listed stakes races at Belmont in August last year with his owner-breeder Geoff Evans saying he was chasing wet tracks with the 7yo son of Viscount.
He found one here with Declan Bates guiding the Lindsay Smith-trained gelding to a half-head victory over the fast-finish of cult hero Rich Charm (Danerich) with the topweight Home Of The Brace (Starspangledbanner) carrying his 62kgs into third, a further long-head back.
“That was brilliant, it was a top win, he’s a beautiful horse,” stable representative Shane Jackson said.
“Declan rode him a treat. We said just use that big stride that he has and he was really tough when they were coming at him late.
“It’s good to get him back because Lindsay has always had a huge opinion of him.
“We didn’t go to the Wangoom because Lindsay said it wasn’t wet enough for him. That’s the genius of Lindsay Smith who said from day one this horse grows another leg on the heavy ground and he proved that today.”
Bred by Geoff Evans’ Distinct Racing and Breeding, the lightly raced Great Again advances his record to 10 wins, 4 seconds and 2 thirds from 22 starts with earnings of $455,700.
He is the best of three winners from five to race out of the top-class Free At Last (Senor Pete) whose 10 wins included the WATC CB Cox Stakes
The 21yo mare has a yearling colt by Pierro, who failed to make his $300,000 reserve at the recent Easter Yearling Sale, and was covered by Churchill (IRE) last spring.
Great Again is one of 17 stakes-winner by the triple Group winner Viscount (Quest For Fame) who died in 2016.
