| Veteran Murray
Bridge based trainer John O’Connor has likened his tough gelding Inkamulla to
brilliant Australian boxer Kostya Tszyu after he further enhanced his Sandown record by
winning yesterday’s Anniversary Handicap over 1200 metres. Inkamulla, who was having his second race in a week, won his fourth
race from as many starts at Sandown with his fighting win over the West Australian mare
Lady Wild.
O’Connor, a 64-year-old based at Murray Bridge just
down the freeway from Adelaide, said the similarity between the Sandown track and his home
track was the major reason behind his grey’s love affair with the Melbourne venue.
"The track here at Sandown is very similar to
home," O’Connor said. "There’s a down hill run for a while before a
long straight with an uphill run of about 400 metres."
O’Connor, who rides the eight-year-old gelding in all
of his trackwork, was full of praise for his son of Nassipour.
"He’s a real tough little horse," he added.
"Look he’s no champion, but he just goes out there are tries every single time.
It’s an absolute pleasure to train a horse like him."
After racing off the pace, promising young apprentice
Michelle Payne balanced the gelding up at the top of the straight and under strong riding
Inkamulla proved too strong.
Inkamulla ($4-$6.50-$6) got home in a driving finish to
beat Lady Wild ($4.60-$6.50) by a half neck. Corvain ($17-$15) was a further three
quarters of a length away in third place.
INKAMULLA
Grey gelding 8 years
Nassipour-Slightly Grey
Trainer: John A O’Connor
Rider: Michelle Payne (a)
Owners: The Group Syndicate (Mgr: PK Reid)
Record: 83 starts, 15 wins, 7 seconds, 7 thirds
Prizemoney: $226,850
Second: LADY WILD (Wild Harmony-Yarralady)
Third: CORVAIN (Cornerman-Very)
Margins: Half neck x ¾ length
Time: 1 minute 14.11 seconds
Last 600m: 36.32 seconds |
