Winning Horse: Witchachar Star (Aus)

6yoG Myboycharlie (Ire) - Witchuponastar (Aus)(Galileo (Ire))

23 starts - 6 wins 1 second 5 thirds $172825

Other Wins

1st Sandown-Hillside Ladbrokes Switch (Bm64) 2400m (2022)

1st Stony Creek Danny O'brien Mp Hcp (58) 2100m (2022)

1st Yarra Valley Bet365 Top Tote Plus Hcp (58)H 1500m (2022)

1st Strathalbyn South Coast Marine (Bm58) 2050m (2021)

1st Strathalbyn Harry Of All Trades Mdn Hcp 1200m (2020)

Other Placings

3rd Caulfield Jack Elliott (Bm78) 2400m (2022)

3rd Yarra Valley V & B Constructions Hcp (58) 1950m (2022)

2nd Gawler Terrace Function Centre (C2) 2100m (2021)

3rd Balaklava Taylors Wines (Bm62) 1600m (2020)

3rd Balaklava Heiniger Hcp (58) 1400m (2020)

3rd Balaklava Bonnie Parker Photography Mdn 1600m (2019)

Race Result:

1st: Witchachar Star (Chris Hyland/Beau Mertens) - $6.50

2nd: Agnelli (Chris Waller/Brett Prebble) - $7.50
3rd: Eaton (Michael & Luke Cerchi/Teodore Nugent) - $21

Winning Time: 2:36.52 Last 600m: N/A

Margins: Neck x 1-¼ Lengths

Winning Trainer: Chris Hyland

On today’s performance: “It was a brave ride, I had my heart in my mouth for a little bit, but the horse just keeps fighting. He looks amazing. I sent the guys a video of him this morning in the sand roll and he was doing somersaults. It’s just fantastic to get a horse like that trying his heart out.”

On his record with tried horses: “We have a bit of luck with older horses and second-hand horses. If you place them in that modest grade early and they learn to get to win again, sometimes they can get back to dizzy heights. He was never at dizzy heights, but he’s heading that way at the moment.”

On winning rider Beau Mertens: “Beau does a lot of riding for me and I basically let him do his thing and more times than not he gets the job done.”

Winning Jockey: Beau Mertens

On his mid-race move to take up the lead: “The tempo came really out of it by the time we hit the back straight and he gets keen as it is, he’s quite a hard horse to get to relax and I could just see it not happening back there, so I popped out to give myself an opportunity to slide forward.

“It didn’t take much to get there, he got there on his ear and lucky enough he was brave enough to hold on.”

“He deserved that, it was a brave effort. Around the corner I thought maybe I was going to run a place and hold on, but he’s a tough horse. He deserves the wins he gets.”

On backing up in the Warrnambool Cup: “Now we’re going to Warrnambool, I’m pretty sure, on Thursday and I think he’ll be a good chance because he gives it his all. He’s a great horse to ride.”

On riding in the Warrnambool Cup: “I haven’t, this will be a first. It will be something different, but I’m looking forward to it.”

On dedicating the win to the late Peter Claridge on his birthday: “Unfortunately he passed away a couple of weeks ago, so I’d like to give my condolences to my partner Hayley Crane and her family, I know they’re going through a tough time.

“He was one of my biggest fans, so I’d like to give that win to him.”