RACING
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BATHURST’S Horse Of The Year for last season made a return to the track that was worthy of that title yesterday as Dashexpress ($4) flew home to claim a narrow win in the RSL Club Entires and Geldings Benchmark 55 Handicap (1,200 metres).
Claire Nutman rode the Dean Mirfin-trained gelding and favourite to his first win since his triumphant spring last year, cutting down Ritzy’s Boy ($6) by a nose at Tyers Park.
Another Bathurst runner, Supreme Laird ($7.50), finished fast on the outside for third a further length back.
Dashexpress had been away from the track since June, but the seven-year-old rewarded the punters’ faith in him with a well-timed run to the winning post.
Run Bullet Run came across from barrier six to take up the running with Eleanor Webster-Hawes on board and she wasted no time putting a few lengths on the field over the opening 400m.
Behind the leader were the well-backed Ritzy’s Boy and Dashexpress in prime position.
The tempo stretched the small six-horse field out early with Supreme Laird sitting several lengths off the next runner in the rear.
Into the straight, Run Bullet Run faded out of contention on the rail as Ritzy’s Boy took over the running one spot wider.
Dashexpress had plenty of fuel to burn on his outside, though, and his late dive left the finish down to a photo.
Mirfin couldn’t have been prouder post-race of the way his galloper shook off the cobwebs and how his race was handled by Nutman.
“It was good to see him come back like that. It was a good ride by Claire,” he said.
“There was plenty of speed in the race and she was smart enough to not try and take them on too hard early and she timed it beautifully by getting there right on the line.
“I thought he’d be closer to the front, but I don’t give instructions to the jockeys like that.
“I tell them if there’s too much pace then just use your brains and that’s what she did. It was a great ride.”
Dashexpress had never finished outside the top three in his first-up runs over his last four preparations, but had never come away with the win until yesterday.
“He’s never won first up before. He always runs well first up, but that’s probably the best he’s run first up, so I just hope that leads him on to a good preparation ahead,” he said.
“I haven’t even picked a race out for him after this.
“I don’t do that with him.
“There’s plenty of races around for him. I’ll have a look on the calendar, give him a couple of weeks between runs, see how he pulls up and fight another day.”