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Olivier Placais was glad he was able to punch “complicated customer” Dash home in the $45,000 Non Premier race over 1000m on Friday night.
The French jockey had previously combined thrice with the Kaphero five-year-old, without success, but it was enough to give him an insight of his quirks.
“He doesn’t turn, he goes off the track if he’s out wide” said Placais who with that 45th win was tying with Michael Rodd, but remained in third place on a countback for seconds.
“He goes straight around bends, and that makes him a tricky and complicated horse to ride.
“He’s never dumped me before, but I know he’s dumped a few jockeys. He’s a handful, but even if he is no world beater, if he is in the mood, he can get the job done.
“Tonight, it seems he was. He was drawn wide and I was worried he would go off around bends, but he was okay.
“I had him flowing smoothly on the outside of the leader (Crazy Dreams). I probably hit the front too soon, and I thought the straight looked really long, but he showed plenty of guts to go all the way.”
Dash ($38) indeed landed in the hot seat once Crazy Dreams (Troy See) capitulated at the top of the straight, but he was soon set upon by the well-supported pair of Drone (Glen Boss) and Effortless (Iskandar Roslan) inside the last furlong.
They did chip away at the margin, but to no avail as Dash was already home and hosed. Drone took second spot another 1 ¼ lengths away with Effortless third separated by an identical margin. The winning time was 59.61 seconds for the 1000m on the Polytrack.
“He loves the course and distance. He won his only previous race in such a race,” said winning trainer Daniel Meagher.
“I’m really rapt he’s won again for his owner (Koh Siok Choo). He’s a light horse, but he fought very well to the line tonight.”
With that second victory, Dash has now taken his stakes earnings past the $50,000 mark for his connections.