Timmy Rictor. Photo by Coffee Photography
Victoria’s Emma Stewart will head to the Bathurst Gold Crown Carnival confident that she can capture more Group 1 glory.
Known as one of Australia’s best trainers, Stewart has met with her fair share of success with her juveniles at past carnivals, but this year her presence is the strongest it has been after qualifying six horses over tonight’s four major finals.
Mark Pitt and David Moran who are the regular reinsmen for the Stewart stable will share the driving duties, both horsemen seasoned on the big stage.
For Moran he will be hoping he can return to the winner’s circle on Crown night after being there in 2019 with his own champion pacer Lochinvar Art when the then three year old took out the Gold Chalice.
That win in the Chalice commenced a golden run for Lochinvar Art who has gone on to win over a million dollars in stakes and has become one of the top racehorses currently in North America.
From his three drives, Moran’s best chance of winning is with lightly raced colt Timmy Rictor in the Gold Crown final, despite him drawing the inside of the second line.
Timmy Rictor was on debut when he overcame a torrid run to win his qualifying heat and is raced by Lochinvar Lodge, a syndicate headed by Moran himself.
David purchased the colt at last year’s Bathurst Gold Crown yearling sale from prominent Hunter Valley breeder Paul Carmody for meagre $7,000 and if he were able to take out tonight’s $150,000 final, will prove to be a bargain buy.
“He is a nice horse with a stack of ability, said Moran.
“He has been with Emma and Clayton since we purchased him, and they have had a wrap on him from the outset. His strong win last week certainly justified their judgement I guess.”
“We had absolutely no luck in the heat, yet he was still able to win which was great.”
Timmy Rictor will follow out pre post favourite and likely leader Chart Topper and if that unfolds, it will give the colt a sitting shot at his rivals via the Bathurst sprint lane.
“I will be looking to hustle through to hold the back of the probable leader Chart Topper and if it pans out that way, I feel that my bloke will be hard to hold out.”
