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Rejuvenated seven-year-old Poor Judge is set for a quick back up in the $150,000 Patinack Farm Cameron Handicap at Newcastle on Wednesday after a record breaking win in last Friday's Ballina Cup.
Photo by Racing and Sports
And if Poor Judge continues his winning run at Newcastle his Coffs Harbour trainer Anthony Honess is planning to press on to the Melbourne spring carnival with the gelding.
Poor Judge has raced just three times for Honess for easy wins in the Moree and Ballina Cups at his last two starts.
It's been a remarkable turnaround to his career as just six months ago he was languishing in a paddock in Queensland after failing in to run a place in nine starts over the previous 10 months.
Poor Judge is now in great form, his five lengths win in the Ballina Cup being the 16th of his 46-start career to break a course record for 1600m that had stood since 1997 by half a second.
"Provided he pulls up well he will go to Newcastle and if he wins or runs a really big race we will take him to Melbourne," said an excited Honess after Friday's win.
"Melbourne has always been the plan but I have wanted to bring him through these types of races first to see where we were with him.
"It was a huge thrill to see him win so easily and in such a fast time."
Poor Judge, owned by Philippine businessman Phillip Tjoeng, was a Group One performer in his early years, being placed in a Toorak Handicap at Caulfield.
He also won a G3 race at Flemington as well as the Listed Weetwood Handicap at Toowoomba but has suffered in recent times from joint and fetlock issues.
Enter Honess, who was prepared to take on the gelding and apply a special training regime to avoid putting too much pressure on his legs.
“He does not go near a training track,” Honess said.
“I rarely work him on the track. All his work is done on the beach where he swims, trots and canters.
"It takes the pressure off his legs and he loves it.
“He is a lovely horse, very smart but had quite a few issues when we got him so I just took my time and quietly built up his fitness.”