Winning Horse: The Awesome Son (Aus)

4yoG Not A Single Doubt (Aus) - Azmiyna (Ire)(Galileo (Ire))

8 starts - 3 wins 1 third 1 fourth $132400

Other Wins

1st Moonee Valley Ranvet (Bm70) 2040m (2021)

1st Moe Frankston Mazda Mdn Plate 1600m (2021)

Other Placings

3rd Bendigo Bet365 Protest Promise Mdn 1400m (2021) (Debut Run)

Race Result:

1st: The Awesome Son (B Mertens/J Sandhu) - $9

2nd: Kissinger (M Cartwright/L Smith) - $2.50F
3rd: Royal Order (D Lane/M Kent) - $7.50

Winning Time: 2:04.21 Last 600m: NA

Margins: Short-Neck x Half-Head

Winning Trainer: Julius Sandhu

On his 8th start for the preparation: “He is, he’s had a big campaign for his first campaign. He’s a horse that has had his challenges mentally but the racing is benefitting him.

On the ride: “Hats off to Beau, it was an outstanding ride and he’s figured the horse out obviously, he knows when to push the button and get him into the race. He looked beaten a long way from home but just keeps plugging away - exciting things ahead I hope.

The future: “”This race was critical for us - I half thought should I be running him when the track got upgraded to Good (3) and I scratched him because of that last week but the pakenham track has nice cushion in it so I rolled the dice. He’s won his races on slow or heavy so it’s nice to see him handle a good track and it gives us options now. I’ll see how he pulls up, that will be the key as he’s had a big campaign, probably leaning towards tipping him out but I’ve thought that a couple of times before but he’s surprised me.

Winning Jockey: Beau Mertens

Forming partnership with the horse: “He is tough. I know him quite well now. It just helps with a bit of experience riding him. He’s not an easy horse to ride. You have to use all your whips around the corners and get him into the race and then you haven’t got too many left in the straight.

“We knew one he got out to a stayers trip that he would put it together and that’s exactly what he’s done.”

What’s that like with whip rules in back of your mind: “I’ve been in trouble on him before. He makes it quite difficult but what is, is tough. He can fight out a finish and once he gets past them he can hold them off and see out a trip well.

“It will be exciting to see how far he can get out to.”