Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Twenty-four-year-old Hayden Hancock produced a flawless drive to land his first Friday night metropolitan-class winner when $56.30 outsider Euston Flyer finished full of running to beat the $1.90 favourite Armed Reactor in the 2130m Classic Legendary Broking Pace.
Eight-year-old Euston Flyer, raced on lease and trained by Matt Scott, began from the No. 3 barrier and Hancock restrained him to settle in sixth place in the one-wide line. But when Kyle Harper eased Hotfoot It off the inside 350m after the start Hancock quickly angled Euston Flyer him across to race three back on the pegs.
Major Artist ($26) was setting a solid pace, with Armed Reactor bringing up the rear in the first lap before Gary Hall Jnr set him alight with a three-wide burst at the 1400m to move to the breeze at the 1100m mark.
Hancock eased Euston Flyer off the inside with 300m to travel and the oldtimer went three wide on the home turn and finished determinedly to hit the front 45m from home and win by 4m from Armed Reactor who had taken the lead at the 100m.
“I have had about 30 drives on a Friday night, and given the circumstances with COVID and having a few drivers out, I probably wouldn’t have had the drive, otherwise,” said Hancock.
“This is the first time I have driven Euston Flyer, and I am very grateful to have had the opportunity. My previous best at Gloucester Park was when Clarenden Hustler finished third behind Delightfulreaction in September 2020.
“I am getting close to 60 winners after three years. I started pretty slowly , but I have had more opportunities in the past year. I was happy with the early burn in tonight’s race, and when I was able to get out I thought I was definitely a top two chance.
“Winning the race came as a little bit of relief. It was like getting the monkey off my back. I graduate as a High School PE teacher in three months, so it’s getting towards the time when I will have to decide what I want to do. At the moment I’m leaning towards the horses.”
Hancock was the 19TH driver to have handled the New South Wales-bred Euston Flyer in a race and the win improved the gelding’s record to 106 starts for 15 wins, 30 placings and $91,071 in prizemoney.
Hancock continued on his merry way at the Northam meeting on Saturday night when he scored a narrow victory with trainer Mario Condipodero’s $34 outsider Follow The Dragon. This gave Hancock his 53RD winner in a burgeoning career.