COOLHAND Easton gave every indication his shift from New Zealand to Wagga trainer David Kennedy's stable should be a successful one after justifying his short odds in the Caltex On Fernleigh Pace (1740m) at Riverina Paceway on Friday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
After working early to take the front, the gelding was never troubled once he took the lead with just over a lap left, winning easily by over 12 metres from Hanover Sunshine.
The victory on the raging $1.18 favourite was the start of a strong day for driver Jackson Painting, who also steered Rocknroll Runa ($1.18) to a comfortable win in the Prestige Cleaning Pace.
Painting said to win with Coolhand Easton for his new owners was satisfying.
"It was his first star for some new clients, a few young boys who are interested in getting into the game. They came and watched and it was awesome to get the victory for them," Painting said.
"They came back when I was weighing in and seeing the joy on their faces was great to see. You don't see much of that in this game, especially at the moment with no crowds allowed.
"They've grown up together and this is the first horse they've been involved in. His work at home has been real strong, and I was confident he would win today.
"There was a couple of hairy moments scoring up, he got a bit keen and galloped for a couple of strides, but he settled down and won real easy.
"Today he was pretty impressive first up without a trial, I've got no doubt he's got plenty more wins left in him."
Rocknroll Runa's win was also effortless after he hit the front when forced to settle back in the field from the second row after Dawn Ofa New Brew began slowly from gate one.
"The one doesn't get off the gate that well so I snagged him back and waited for him to settle. When he did he popped to the top and once he got there he was going to be pretty hard to stop," Painting said.
"He did it well within himself, I never pulled the plug and he did it quite easy."
In the Conquest Pool Pace (1740m) James Rattray's Rossini ($1.18) set a new four-year-old track record with a mile rate of 1:53.1 in an impressive 12.5 metre win.
Rattray went on to secure a race-to-race double with another outstanding win with short-priced favourite Star Major, who clocked a track record mile rate of 1:51.8.
READ MORE
