Brenton Avdulla combined with Godolphin and Interim Head Trainer Darren Beadman again to bring home Gaulois for the rising three-year-old Street Cry colt’s first win after five starts in the $100,000, TAB Handicap (1350m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Gaulois (57.5kg) had placed in each of his previous starts so the win was not so much overdue as just waiting to happen and right from the barriers Avdulla had him in command of proceedings. Through the early sectionals they were tracked by Bidwee (55kg) and Jason Collett with $4.00 tote second favourite Hualalai (58kg) and Tommy Berry in fourth.
Brenton Avdulla likes the win on Gaulois, picture Sportpix.com.au
Racing two off the rails Avdulla let Gaulois go at the top of the straight and immediately they were 2L ahead of the rest and that was the race in their keeping. Hualalai chased as the best of the rest. Avdulla kept Gaulois going just as much as was required and they were not going to be beaten with the margin at the line 1L.
Hualalai (Street Cry) and Berry were well clear of Condor (Fastnet Rock) (57kg) and Christian Reith were third with the margin 1 1/4L. Guipure was fourth.
The time was 1.22.93 on the Heavy 8 track with the final 600m in 35.29. Gaulois paid $2.60 on fixed odds with Bluebet.com.au and $2.60 on the tote.
“It looked like he had it under control from the start. The horse outside did not put on a lot of pressure so he had a lovely run in front. All his runs have been good so he deserved the win,” summed up Paul Reid, Godolphin foreman.
“Everything worked out well. Darren sent me a text message this morning saying you know him well so just do what you think is best for him,” said Avdulla.
“He has obviously been very well placed by Darren and the team. I was always confident he would run out 1400m, he was still a maiden but he has been beaten by some pretty decent horses going through is form. I was confident that if I was able to control the speed today and to get to the better part of the track he was always going to be hard to run down.
“I think he is going to be a lovely 1400m to 1600m horse and when he knows what it is all about he will put himself on the speed and to be genuine, tough and honest,” he said.
Beadman was at Ipswich on Saturday for the stable runners after recovering from his illness that prevented him being present at Doomben for Impending’s Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap win last week.
Avdulla now moves to 74.3 winners for the season to keep a crucial gap between himself and his next rival for the metropolitan premiership Hugh Bowman on 63 winners.
