Hennessy Lad made it 3 wins from only 9 career starts after the gelding’s impressive win at Moonee Valley.
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained galloper made an excellent return as a four-year-old several weeks ago when second at Flemington, and he fulfilled that run’s promise with a strong victory on Saturday.
Jumping a $3.10 favourite, Luke Nolen had the son of Belardo in a perfect one-one spot throughout and got him out with plenty of air in the straight.
The pair were challenged in the straight by second pick Legend Of Dubai ($6), who ran on well at his second start in the country and may benefit from getting back around a larger bend.
But Hennessy Lad kept finding and was too tough late, a quality of his that has always impressed Dalziel.
“He’s such an honest horse,” Dalziel said. “We bought him out of New Zealand, myself and Moods, and he’s never finished further back than fourth in his career to date.
“You know he’s just going to give a tough, honest effort and he did that today, so our thanks to our very own Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman.”
However, the lid is well and truly on in terms of the horse’s future, with Dalziel preferring a measured approach to putting him straight up in trip and level.
“He could get out over more ground; we tested him a bit last preparation … we won’t rush him up to any group races I don’t think,” he said.
“Moods will take him through the grades – he felt like he might be another Pounding, where he might just sort of progressively work his way through the grades, and maybe get to the top company one day.”
Our thanks to jockey Luke Nolen for his 10 out of 10 rides as well as Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman for a super training effort. We were overly excited for Katherine with Hennessy lad being her first Saturday metropolitan winner since her newly formed training partnership with Peter Moody.
A great bunch of loyal owners are enjoying exciting times with Hennessy Lad.
