Paul Gadsby has had his hands full with the temperamental gelding Techno Captain but earmuffs and the attentions of a horse whisperer appear to have done the trick. “He spooks at everything he sees,” said Gadsby. “But hopefully he’s settled down a little,” he added. All that plus an excellent front-running ride from apprentice Ashton Arries saw Techno Captain into the winner’s both for the fourth time in his career at Scottsville yesterday.
It was an exceptional ride by Arries but in hindsight, those that followed the form were well rewarded.
Techno Captain (Candiese Marnewick)
Four runs back yesterday’s favourite, One Man Show, had beaten Techno Captain by just under a length at level weights over course and distance. Yesterday there was a 7kg swing in favour of Techno Captain and although the winning margin was not much wider than a piece of paper, Arries was full value for his claim.
With only five runners facing the starter there was always the danger of a slow-run race but as the field dawdled the first couple of furlongs, Arries set sail.
Techno Captain was still many lengths clear turning for home but a furlong out his legs were turning to jelly as One Man Show cut the deficit and looked set for victory.
However, Arries somehow managed to extract more from his seemingly beaten mount and he came back at his challenger to get up on the line. It was an exceptional effort from both horse and rider.
There was another tight finish to the third as City Of Stars, in the colours of Rob and Michelle Pickering of Middlefield Stud, got her nose in front when it counted for Belinda Impey with Lunar Tide denied on the line.
“Don’t thank the trainer, thanks the jockey,” where Alistair Gordon’s magnanimous words after Anton Marcus got home aboard Whiteleaf Hills. Had at work even before the field turned for home, Marcus kept pumping away and was rewarded with an extra effort from his mount who got up lose home to beat the Des Egdes-trained Le Cheik.
“I thought we were beaten a long way out,” said Gordon. “Most other jockeys would have given up.”
By Andrew Harrison
