3 minute read

First Accused made up for his defeat in the $50,000 Tasbred feature two weeks ago when he gave his rivals a galloping lesson to take out the Aviso Tas Pink Cup Autumn 3YO Classic over 1400m in Hobart on Sunday.

In Brief

• First Accused to be set for 1600m race in Melbourne.
• Pires emotional about win for a mate.
• Terry Roles spent time in hospital recently.

TheScott Brunton-trained gelding had his colours lowered by Algernon at their previous encounter, but rider David Pires adopted catch me-if-you-can tactics and it paid off.

The gelded son of Turffontein set a solid tempo early and when Pires tried to slacken the pace Algernon's rider Brendon McCoull sent his charge up to race at the leader's hindquarters to ensure a quicker tempo.

It was clear First Accused appreciated stepping up in distance and it may have convinced Brunton to proceed with plans to take the gelding to Melbourne for a three-year-old race over 1600m at the end of the month.

"This horse used to fire up if you pushed him out of the gates, but this prep Tegan (Keys) has done a lot of work with him and today when he found the lead, he just dropped his head and settled beautifully," Pires said.

"We tried him over 2100m last preparation, and I don't think he got the trip, but I reckon 1600m will be his pet distance."

It was one of four winners for Pires, but none were better than his win in the last on the card aboard Needadollarbill from the Dylan Clark stable.

Needadollarbill is part-owned by former trainer Terry Roles who has been battling MND and Pires was once apprenticed to the Hall of Fame mentor at Deloraine.

"There's nothing like riding four winners at a meeting but there's nothing better than riding one owned by Terry (Roles)," Pires said.

"Terry has been doing it tough since he was diagnosed with MND and in particular of late, but I know that he gets a real lift when he gets a winner and that makes this win so much better. I'm calling in to see Terry and the family after next Sunday's Devonport meeting and that's when I can celebrate this win with him."

Pires's other winners were Sir Da Vinci in a benchmark 70 handicap over 2100m and Evelina Rose in a 1400-metre maiden with both from the Brunton stable.