Aganippe ends fruitless run in style at Corowa
KEVIN Hanley-trained mare Aganippe has caused a boilover in the first race of the day at Corowa, winning its first ever race after 16 attempts.
In a brilliant front-running display, the +7780 chance at WilliamHill.com.au pinched a healthy break on the field heading into the latter stages of the race and was never challenged.
Short-priced favourite Blue Valour ($1.30 Sportsbet.com.au) loomed stylishly at multiple stages throughout the run, but failed to bridge the gap in a disappointing performance from the even money elect.
Fellow despised outsider Smashby rounded out the placings to return $13.60 at Sportsbet.com.au.
The win was all about the Kevin Hanley’s four-year-old however, who not only broke through for its maiden win after 16 starts, but secured its first placing in a competitive race.
BANG! Massive upset in the first at #Corowa after Aganippe salutes at $78 for trainer Kevin Hanley. pic.twitter.com/ou8cloBb22
— Horse Betting (@HorseBettingAU) July 4, 2017
Despite the poor record, trainer Kevin Hanley was always optimistic he had a winner in waiting.
“I was really happy with her,” Hanley told HorseBetting.com.au.
“I thought she could win a race at this level.”
The trainer’s confidence in Aganippe was evident post-race, but Hanley said he was one of the only member of the four-year-old’s team that had not lost faith in the mare.
The win saved the trainer from a tough decision on the mare, however.
“This was probably her last chance with me,” the trainer said.
“Everyone else sacked her after last start, but I didn’t sack her. I said ‘we’ll give her another one’.”
A gear change proved to be just the tonic the mare needed to break through.
“She’s had her problems, she’s a windsucker,” Hanley explained.
Nice Tuesday afternoon for some Corowa owners… $66 shot Aganippe salutes in the opening maiden
— Punters.com.au (@Punters) July 4, 2017
Windsucking, or “cribbing” is where the horse sets his teeth on a wall, or fence and sucks air into his stomach. This causes a release of endorphines in the horse.
This can be corrected in horses by adding an additional collar, and Hanley said the move was a beneficial one for his galloper.
“So we changed the collar, we got a different collar for her over the last month and it made all the difference because now she’s getting enough oxygen.”
The sprinter lead into the straight and kicked away from the front, highlighting just how positive that collar add was.
The huge price on offer belied how strong the horse’s performance was, and Hanley believes this is just the beginning for the mare.
The trainer believes that now Aganippe has broken through at one of the toughest maiden distances, more wins could be on the cards.
“I’ll keep her around that mark, 1000m and 1200m seems to be her distance,” he said.
“They are the hardest races to win the 1000m maiden, but once you get past that maiden you can hopefully go onto bigger and better things.
“You never know, but hopefully she’ll keep improving.”