Survey’s Legacy breaks through for long overdue success
SURVEY’S Legacy upstaged the hot favourite Let’s Get Nauti Girl to score her first career win at Newcastle on Thursday.
The four-year-old mare was taken straight to the front by jockey Nick Heywood and ran her rivals off their feet, scoring by half a length over Nyah and Let’s Get Nauti Gal.
Trainer Jay Hopkins, who only has five horses in work, said it was a relief to finally see Survey’s Legacy break through at start 12 after six placings.
“We bought her from down in Victoria and she has had seven starts for us and has only missed the place once so she has been really consistent without winning,” Hopkins said as he spoke to Horse Betting at the track.
“She was the short-priced favourite at Cessnock last time and she got caught in the gates and had to be scratched.
“It was disappointing at the time because it really looked to be her race but it worked out well in the long run as she was able to come here today and win a better race worth more money.”
Survey’s Legacy makes it a local victory for Jay Hopkins who has now trained his second career winner! pic.twitter.com/X7uEjR0cMo
— Newcastle Racecourse (@newcastleraces_) June 22, 2017
The victory broke a six-month drought for her Newcastle-based trainer Hopkins who said he was confident he had the horse to get the job done on Thursday.
“[Let’s Get Nauti Girl] had a bit of class on its side but I watched its trials and it wasn’t overly impressive so I wasn’t too worried because I knew I had a good, fit horse,” Hopkins said.
“She is speedy – she jumped well and she got a pretty easy time in front so she was entitled to kick, which she did, and she fought on well.”
Meanwhile, Kris Lees wasn’t too disappointed with the effort of the beaten favourite, Lets Get Nauti Girl, which was first-up from a spell in the 1200m event.
Prior to her break the two-year-old had three starts – among those a third in the Inglis Classic and a seventh in the Group 3 Widden Stakes.
Lees said he expects the daughter of Harbour Watch and Zecchino to break through in the near future and was prepared to forgive the run.
“I think she got out in time but she was probably just a run short being first up, taking on the older horses so I think she’ll improve off that run,” Lees said.
“She was found wanting when she got clear room, she failed to let down on the soft-ish track.
“I still think she will win her share of races – I think if we can place her in a softer race next time I think she’ll be winning next start.”
It wasn’t a bad day at the office for Lees who also got a second in race three with Chalmers and won the final event on the card with Time Out Of Mind.
Ridden by Glyn Schofield, Time Out Of Mind clocked the fastest time of the day over the six furlong trip, his second triumph at start five.
“He has always shown us a lot this horse, but it has taken him a while to switch on. He ran up to his best today,” Lees said.