THERE was only a half neck in it, but that was enough for Nathan Hurst's Getaloadathisbro to notch up the first win of his career on Monday afternoon at the Bathurst Paceway.
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The three-year-old had four starts prior to Monday's TAB Odds and Evens Maiden Pace (1,730 metres) and had been well beaten in each of those runs.
The closest he'd come to success for the Eglinton trainer-driver was a 38 metres sixth at Dubbo last September.
Punters had not shown the Auckland Reactor x Getaloadaher gelding much love either. Three times he had started at more than triple figures odds.
But Monday was a different story.
Going from barrier nine in the maiden race, this time Getaloadathisbro was rated a $14 chance.
Hurst was happy to follow out Shes Koala Tee (barrier one) and sit in the trail.
Getaloadathisbro got a comfortable trip with the first half of the last mile covered in 62.6 seconds.
Shes Koala Tee led the way into the home straight, but Hurst ducked into the sprint lane and the challenge from Getaloadathisbro came.
With 100m to go Hurst's chance nosed in front, but it was by no means job done.
Shes Koala Tee continued to battle while the $1.50 favourite, Mat Rue's Platinum Promise, was coming fast.
The favourite, who had been one out and three back and some 12 lengths off the pace on the bell, made up good ground in the final 50m.
But it was not enough.
Getaloadathisbro held on to beat the favourite by a half neck, with just a head back to Shes Koala Tee.
"I probably thought I did [win], but only just. I wasn't 100 percent sure," Hurst admitted.
"He's sort of taken a little bit to come, but he's getting there now.
"Just with that good draw that was the plan [to sit in the trail]. It sort of worked out the way I thought it might.
"Generally the family gets better as they get older, Auckland Reactor was a bit like that too, so I think he's got a bit of potential."
Getaloadathisbro clocked a 2:01.0 mile rate, stablemate Brilliant Art ($2.60) then winning the next race to make it a double for Hurst.
