Regeneration is still on the up

ON the face of it, handicapping is always a punters best guide. It doesn’t always work out, given the vagaries of the sport, but the filly Regeneration looked to be the ‘right’ horse in the Progress Plate that headed the turf card at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday.

- ANDREW HARRISON

Rated way better than her opposition after showing smart form in group company, it was just a matter of Robbie Hill having got her fit enough to win first up in her seasonal debut over 1400m after not having been out since May when contesting the Gr1 Woolavington 2000.

Godden

In the event, it was never a contest as Tristan Godden rode a confident race. Tracking the early pace, he gave his mount a clear run and she responded with a romp to the line.

Hill has never been the easiest in a post-race interview, but it was a fitting win as Hill and Sean Veale, once first call riders for now retired trainer Dennis Drier, scored on his birthday.

Often there is a fine line of judgement between pulling the trigger too early and pulling it too late, especially when it comes to a tight finish.

That was the case in the first as Deryl Daniels did it all right on Sun In My Pocket, only to be denied in the last few strides by Treasure Island with Tristan Godden timing his run to perfection on Mike Miller’s filly.

Daniels was quick to send Sun My Pocket to lead and was clear of the pack for most of the race. Heading for home he sat for as long as he dared, only ‘pulling the trigger’ past the 400m mark.