STEVE O’Halloran never lost faith even though it took Rico Suave eight starts to break out of maiden class.
The experienced Hawkesbury horseman’s belief has been justified as the now five-year-old has won three races (along with seven placings) and at home today made it two from his last three starts – and it was clearly his best performance.
Rico Suave ($9.50) powered down the centre of the track in the Clarendon Tavern Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap (1800m) to prevail in all-provincial finish, defeating Kembla Grange trainer Joe Ible’s The Carpet Bagger ($9) and Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle’s $2.90 favorite Ambassadors.
O’Halloran purchased Rico Suave online in November 2022 for $15,000 after he had finished down the track in a 1250m Maiden Plate at Newcastle the previous month at his first start.
Rico Suave had fetched $340,000 at the 2021 Inglis Ready2Race sale as an unraced early two-year-old.
“Having brought such good money, the owners most likely would have been looking for a reasonably quick return,” O’Halloran said this evening.
“Being by Fastnet Rock and from a High Chaparral mare (Annata Lady), I felt he would need time.
“Rico Suave was a bit uptight when I got him. I guess both the horse and myself took a deep breath and chilled out.
“Whilst it took him another seven runs to win his Maiden (over 1900m at Gosford in July last year), he had run four thirds and a second prior to that.”
O’Halloran’s only drawback about starting Rico Suave at home today was that he didn’t have to take him far.
“He always stands quietly in the float when he goes to away meetings, but can get pretty revvy when he gets to Hawkesbury for a race,” O’Halloran said.
“But he was really good today. He still has his moments, but hopefully has turned the corner.
“His rider Mitchell Bell was adamant that was his best win, and I felt the same.
“Mitchell took his medicine early from a wide barrier, and Rico Suave really let down when he gpt him out into the open after straightening.”
O’Halloran says Rico Suave is the type of horse you could keep in work for 12 months.
“He’s a big gross type, and lives out in the yard.
“He always looks as though he needs the run, but that’s just him.”
O’Halloran was due for better luck at home after unlucky placings with stablemates Irradiance and Webejamin at Kembla Grange last Saturday.
“It’s not often you take two horses to the races and they both get beaten by the same narrow margin,” he said.
“At least Irradiance and Webejamin raced well, and hopefully both will break through soon.”
O’Halloran is considering giving Rico Suave his chance in town in the near future.
“There’s a Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1800m) at Rosehill Gardens at the end of the month,” he said.
“But I won’t get ahead of myself, and will be guided by Rico Suave’s progress as to which way we go.”
*Words by John Curtis for hawkesburyraceclub.com.au
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