SOLDIER’S SADDLE
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Bathurst trainer Kevin Higgins has spent plenty of time watching past Soldier’s Saddle races, riding eventual winners of the marquee event, and trying to win one as a trainer himself.
By his own admission, winning it would feel like winning the biggest race in the land.
“To me it would be like winning the Melbourne Cup,” he said.
“In the past I’ve done a lot of work for Gayna Williams, who has won it, and I rode some of her horses that went on to succeed in it. To win one myself as a trainer would be just unbelievable, the best feeling.”
Higgins has one of five local entries in today’s 1400 metre feature in the shape of seven-year-old gelding Supreme Laird.
The veteran son of former superstar sprinter General Nediym out of Spritzer finished a lengthy campaign 12 months ago with a tilt at the Saddle, but faded to finish ninth of 14 entries.
With that in mind, Higgins changed things up this time around as he specifically set the bay for the $25,000 race.
“He had a good campaign recently, he ran five thirds without managing a win, but we wanted to back him off at the end of that and really set him up for this race,” the trainer explained.
“Last year he was right at the end of his preparation and you could see that in his run, he was pretty tired by that stage so the result owed a lot to his workload.
“We took him out back in January and we’re only bringing him back now. He races at his best first and second-up so I’m confident he’ll be able to put in a big showing.”
Higgins’ attitude is backed up by the figures.
In six first-up performances he has a win and three placings.
Second-up, he has a win and two minors from five runs.
It proves that he races his best when he is at his most fresh, and with three seconds from six outings on soft tracks, the recent rain shouldn’t cause him any bother either.
“I’d expect him to do a lot better than last year, I’ve got fairly high hopes for him,” Higgins said.
“I don’t think there is any doubt that Hollywood Nell is probably the one to beat. She has been racing very well and likes the track. But I think, and without meaning to be too disrespectful, this is one of the weaker fields I’ve seen for the Saddle.
“That’s a good thing for the trainers, it leaves it very open and gives most of the runners a pretty good chance.
“I just hope I’m the one holding up the trophy.”