Brian Buckley is celebrating after his horse Fusakeo won the 2013 Soldier’s Saddle, but just moments into the race the Orange trainer thought his chances of victory had disappeared.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Fusakeo had drawn barrier one and Buckley and jockey Greg Ryan had agreed that the best chance for the seven-year-old gelding was to place him somewhere in the first four.
However, that fell to pieces when he was slow out of the barriers and dropped to the rear of the field.
Buckley said he had written off his own horse but Ryan hadn’t. The jockey pushed hard and was able to not only get the horse back in contention, but brought him home quickest to edge out Toranaga for the win by the thinnest of margins.
“We were very disappointed when he missed the start and we said to each other ‘he’s gone’. Our plan was to be in the first three or four, but when he came out he walked for two or three steps,” Buckley said.
“It’s really good. It’s our first [Soldier’s Saddle] win. We had a runner once before but it didn’t do any good.”
There was a bit of a surprise on the day with three scratchings prior to the race.
Prince Warrior, Rain Alert and Meteor Master were all non starters, which left a field of six competing for the $14,410 first prize.
Gulgong trainer Gayna Williams saw Reece firm to $3.80 favouritism just before the race, but with such a small field, there wasn’t a lot of value to be had.
Fusakeo and Dollario were equal on the second line of betting, offering $5.50.
But it was Bob Howe’s Toranaga ($7.80), who went from barrier five, that took the lead. Jockey Anthony Cavallo was able to set the pace in the early stages from Juste Heaven Sent and Reece. It was that slow pace that helped to bring Fusakeo back into the running.
He was still fifth with 300 metres to go, but as they swung around onto the home straight, Ryan sent him out wide and he began to push Toranaga.
Ryan had the gelding chasing hard but was rapidly closing the gap in the final 100 metres. He had just enough energy left to snatch victory on the finish line,
getting home by a nose ahead of Toranaga. Dollario ($4.40) came home in third, a further length behind but in front of Reece.
Experienced jockey Greg Ryan hadn’t ever ridden Fusakeo before, but was well aware of the horse’s background and despite the early hiccup, was once again supreme.
It was win number four in the Saddle for the 46-year-old, and his third in a row.
Buckley said if he was honest, he thought the distance probably didn’t quite suit his runner, but credited Ryan for being able to get him home.
“We’ll go to the Gooree Cup in Mudgee next and see how he goes. We think he will be better over 1600 metres. The 1400 today we thought was a fraction short for him, but when you put someone like Greg Ryan on him, with over 3000 winners, his ability speaks for itself.”
One aspect of the race that did disappoint Buckley was the lack of interest from trainers for a race that boasted $25,000 in prize money.
“I think the race is good. It’s a crying shame the club is turning around and put this prize money on and only got six horses in the race,” he said.
“The trainers that are whingeing and whining about not having enough races should have a look at themselves.”
