Off the back of an explosive victory last time out at Hawkesbury when breaking his maiden by just shy of four lengths, Nathan Doyle’s Hidden Motive (Capitalist) justifiably jumped the short-priced favourite in the $160,000 Precise Air Handicap (1100m) at Randwick.
Down to a field of seven after four scratched runners, jockey Ash Morgan took Hidden Motive forward to sit on the outside of Danny Williams’ 50/1 chance Dubbo Boy (Casino Prince), with the pair going along at a steady tempo.
Into the home straight and the leading pair drifted off the rail slightly, allowing runs to come from the inside and the outside, it was clear Morgan still had plenty of horse underneath him as Dubbo Boy dropped off.
Morgan started to shake up the well-bred colt with about 150m to run as the Annabel and Rob Archibald trained King’s Legacy filly Kujenga was starting to look a danger coming down the outside of the field from last.
As the post was reached, punters were hoping Hidden Motive had held on, while the dollar each way punters were hoping Kujenga had arrived in time at 80/1 odds.
Hidden Motive held a narrow margin on the line, taking his record to wins at his last two starts coupled with a pair of placed efforts from five starts.
With trainer Nathan Doyle in Queensland, Kurrinda Bloodstock’s Sean Driver spoke about the win.
“To be honest, we didn't think we got the bob. But look, he's a tough horse on conditions that, you know, the progeny suggests. They don't love the wet,” stated Driver.
“He'll go home now. He'll come back to our farm in the Hunter Valley for two weeks. And he's a four or five length better horse than what you've seen today.”
With the spring targets already being spoken about, the colt will have a few weeks off before returning to work.
“The big aim is the Coolmore. That's our big goal. So, he'll have two weeks off, and as you can see, he's fourth up today. He's a big, burly-looking fella, and so he'll be on a strict diet, and he'll be back in probably two weeks.”
Jockey Ash Morgan was pleased with the win.
“I thought it was a really good win. I know it was a very small margin, but I thought he was entitled to get beat there.”
A $120,000 Magic Millions purchase from Cressfield for Doyle Racing and Kurrinda Bloodstock, Hidden Motive is the third winner from four foals to race from Group 1 SAJC Robert Sangster Stakes winner Secret Agenda (Not A Single Doubt), who sadly died last year and her final foal is a filly by Zoustar.
Priced to appeal this spring, Newgate Farm’s Capitalist will stand at a fee of $44,000 (inc. GST).
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