Pakenham trainer Greg Hayes looks on as apprentice jockey Thomas Sadler gets interviewed by TVN’s Shane Templeton. The decision to claim three kilos with Sadler made all the difference in Beyondagoldendream’s victory at Pakenham on Friday. 74588 Picture: David Nagel
By David Nagel
LOCAL trainer Greg Hayes’ decision to claim three kilos with apprentice jockey Thomas Sadler paid handsome dividends for his seven-year-old gelding Beyondagoldendream at Pakenham on Friday.
The son of Belong to Me put the writing on the wall at his previous start at Seymour when he fought on courageously to hang on for third.
He backed that up with another performance full of grit and determination to win the $12,000 Shady’s Last Gallop 0-62 Handicap (1770m).
Sadler had Beyondagoldendream on pace throughout the race and hit the front before turning for home.
He held on all the way down the straight to fight off Fine Wine by a long neck with Mossailey in third.
Hayes was confident as soon as he saw his charge hit the lead.
“When he was in front at the top of the straight I thought we’ve got this,” Hayes said.
“He copped a bad bump at Seymour last start but still battled on well for third in a hotter field than this.
“I think the step up to a more suitable distance helped as well; his favourite distance is around the mile or a bit further.
“I knew he’d be strong at the end.”
Hayes had Beyondagoldendream fourth up for Friday’s race, gradually stepping up in distance at each run. He said Sadler rode the race to perfection.
“We had a plan A and a plan B.
“Plan A was to box seat just behind them and plan B was to roll to the lead, Tom rode a good race,” he said.
“We claimed with Tom thinking it might make all the difference and that’s exactly how it turned out, the second horse was down in the weights so it helped us out no doubt.”
Friday’s win took Beyondagoldendream’s record to six wins from 33 starts and $58,000 in prize money.
