3 minute read
Cheap purchase Curran has returned to winning form scoring at Geelong.
A rails hugging ride has provided the connections of Curran with a rich Good Friday payday at Geelong.
The Lyn Tolson and Leonie Proctor-trained sprinter took out the second running of The Country Discovery (1100m) on Friday.
The Country Discovery was the feature race on the Good Friday program which sees the meeting transferred around regional centres.
Last year's inaugural running was held at Sale.
Ridden by Craig Newitt, Curran ($12) registered a three-quarter length win from last year's winner In The Boat ($5) with Midwest ($7) a neck away third.
Curran was picked up for $600 in an on-line auction after starting his career with Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, and Friday's win took his prize money to in excess of $700,000.
Friday's victory was Curran's first since scoring at Moonee Valley in September 2021 and Proctor wondered whether the gelding would recapture winning form.
"I'm pretty soft on him and I had to try something different," Proctor said.
"The best I could do was take him jumping. I took him over a few pony club jumps and that sparked him up enough.
"He's that laid back and today I thought he was too quiet. He's hard to get a guide on him, but it is a relief to win."
Proctor said she would discuss plans with her mother who was in the horse stalls looking after stablemate Triggerific who ran in the final race.
She said they would see where Curran's rating lands after Friday's win, but the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville next month may be considered.
Newitt was having his first ride on the gelding on Friday and said he could not believe how relaxed the sprinter was.
"He went around to the barriers like an old hurdler," Newitt said.
"You wouldn't think he was a 1000-metre, 1200-metre horse, but it just goes to show that they do a really good job with him.
"He's got his issues, but he was in tip-top order today and he won accordingly."
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