Honest six-year-old Heptagon (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) completed a red-letter day for Caulfield trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent (Jnr) on their home course.
Heptagon back in winning form at Caulfield. Photo: Reg Ryan/Racing Photos
The duo sent out a treble of winners, with Heptagon following earlier wins by stablemates Right You Are and Tavisan.
The son of Jimmy Choux took out the Vale Kevin O’Brien Handicap (1400m) and was aided by a perfect ride by three-kilo claiming apprentice Lewis German.
It had been more than 12 months since Heptagon had passed the winning post in front and Price credited his facilities at Warrnambool for working the oracle with the gelding who has been a good money spinner for owners, winning eight races to date and A$416,315 in prizemoney.
“You’ve just got to persevere I guess,” Price said. “It was a Benchmark 84 and a case of right time, right place, right barrier and right ride.
“There are plenty of times when these things don’t work out but today they all chimed in.
“He is a horse that needs his toe in the ground and I would say all the credit goes to the boys and girls at Warrnambool.
“He is the sort of horse that doesn’t like me annoying him here at Caulfield and he is better off at Warrnambool where they do all that nice beach work and then he has a paddock during the day.
“If you leave him alone he is a happy horse. He used to pull at Caulfield and now he doesn’t pull.”
Rated 89, Heptagon carried 59.5kgs to victory after Lewis German’s claim and Price said the challenge is placing the horse who is handicapped up to his mark.
“I think if he has a good week at Ladies Bay he will go to the Swan Hill Cup (1600m) next Sunday,” Price said.
“You have just got to try and keep finding the gaps for these sort of horses and this is his time of the year.
“You will see his winning strike-rate has petered out of late and that is for a reason but he is thriving down at Warrnambool and you’ve just got to try and find the right races for him.”
Heptagon was raised and sold by Bradbury Park. He was offered on behalf of Nearco Stud at the 2015 Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka and bought by Price for $150,000.
He is from Seven Schillings, the top filly on the 2008-09 NZ 2YO Free Handicap as the winner of the Gr.3 Taranaki Classic (1200m) and runner-up in the Gr.1 Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie.
Heptagon is the elder half-brother to Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) winner Emily Margaret (NZ) (Pins).
