MOREE part-owned and Collarenebri-trained Volcanic Gold survived a protest to narrowly win the 1400m Members’ Maiden Plate at Moree on Friday.
Trainer Kelly Smith sat out a few anxious minutes as stewards deliberated an objection lodged by Shannen Llewellyn, rider of runner-up Harsh Mistress, trained at Gunnedah by Sally Torrens.
Llewellyn alleged Volcanic Gold shifted out near the line.
After a lengthy enquiry, stewards dismissed the protest and the placings stood – much to the relief of Smith.
“It was a tight one. I thought at one part of the enquiry, we’d lost,” he said.
Volcanic Gold ($9), formerly trained at Moree by Peter Sinclair, led throughout to win by a short-head from Harsh Mistress ($11), with Craig Martin’s $1.55 favourite Halle Bee two lengths away third.
Winning rider Jake Pracey-Holmes said Volcanic Gold – known as a bit of a ‘mug lair’ around the stables – was impressive.
“He probably should’ve won by a bit further because he was a bit ‘lairy’,” Pracey-Holmes said.
“I think he wants winkers or blinkers – probably the winkers first. Not that he goes too hard, because he’s got that laid-back attitude, but he definitely wants something to spark him up.
“The whole race he wanted to be ‘lairy’, and was never genuinely running.”
Volcanic Gold survived a protest to narrowly win the 1400m Members’ Maiden Plate at Moree on Friday.
Volcanic Gold pinged the lids to lead easily, and held a good margin straightening for home.
“It was a good win,” Pracey-Holmes said.
“Sure, we got a couple of easy sectionals, with a few (jockeys) behind me saying I’d gotten away with murder – and I probably did,” he grinned
“But I think there’s more in the tank, and that won’t be his last win.”
Smith said Volcanic Gold, owned by the trainer in partnership with his wife Carol, Danny Bourke and Bill and Cindy Poulos, was a work in progress.
“He’s a still a big baby, for a four-year-old, but I like that because he’s a got a lot in front of him,” Smith said.
“What made me happy with the run, was the way he pricked his ears on the line. That was a really good sign, because this horse knows how to kid when he wants to.”
Smith said instructions were to go to the front and stay there.
“The plan was definitely to lead. We had too, and that’s why I got Jake to ride him. He’s a good, aggressive rider and suits the horse,” Smith said.
“Also, I’m a bit blind and I like to see the green colours out in front,” he laughed.
“But the horse needed sparking up because he’s a lethargic big fella, and Jake rode him a treat.”
Volcanic Gold was having only its third start for Smith after changing stables.
“I’ve got a lot of time for the horse,” Smith said.
“He put in a couple of nice runs last preparation when Pete had him, and his first-up run when second at Collarenebri was good.
“Next start he raced well at Coonamble, considering he was back amongst them and got caught wide all the way.
“I leased him when Pete left to go to Murwillumbah, and I’m really thankful to the owners for giving me the chance to train the horse. I’m sure there’ll be more wins,” he said.
