3 minute read
His name is Green, but red was his favorite colour at Tuncurry yesterday!
Hawkesbury trainer Peter Green continued his excellent recent run by winning the Maiden Handicap (1000m) with a mare making her debut for his stable.
In doing so, the experienced horseman maintained a "family tradition" as Gottabe Red's older half-sister Bettabet Red (by Casino Prince from Simoneashley) also won her first race at Tuncurry in March, 2014.
The now retired Bettabet Red went on to win the 2015 Muswellbrook Cup for her former Gosford trainer, the late Fred Cowell, who purchased Gottabe Red at the 2017 Scone yearling sale for $16,000.
Cowell passed away before Gottabe Red (by Ad Valorem) began racing, but she had five starts for three placings (including a $101 debut second at Newcastle in November, 2018) for his widow Irene, and then a further six starts for one placing for fellow Gosford trainer Ken Parker.
The four-year-old mare entered Green's Hawkesbury stable earlier this year in a touch of irony.
Green's brother and racing manager Clint was negotiating to purchase another horse, who subsequently was sold to Queensland interests.
"The owner mentioned to Clint that this mare was also on the market, and we were able to purchase her," Green explained today.
"She was a cheap buy."
No doubt even cheaper after Gottabe Red ($3.30) steamrolled her rivals in the $12,000 Maiden.
She flew the gates from her inside barrier and was never threatened, leading throughout to score easily from $2.60 favorite Right Bower.
Winning rider, talented apprentice Cejay Graham, became Green's most successful jockey in his few seasons of training at Hawkesbury.
She has won three races for him – and two have been on a pair of his recent winners. Graham also scored on Butch'N' Bugs at the Wyong meeting on April 9.
Green's other recent winner was Auvergne (Mikayla Weir), also at Wyong, on April 30.
He was confident beforehand that Gottabe Red would race well on debut for him at Tuncurry.
"She had a slight cold about six weeks ago, but subsequently had a nice jumpout and a couple of good gallops at home, including one last Tuesday," he said.
"We went there feeling she would perform well, and it was good to see her win as she did.
"The stable is going really well at present, and hopefully we can win some more races before season's end."
Lightly-raced youngster Spanish Fighter won't be one of those possibilities, however, in the remaining couple of months before the new season begins on August 1.
Green stuck to his plan to send the two-year-old, a recent Wyong placegetter, to the paddock after he ran in last Friday's $100,000 Inglis Challenge (1100m) at only his third start.
He is adamant the Bull Point gelding will mature with a spell and pay his way next season as a three-year-old.