When owner Mark Gurry and harness racing trainer-driver John Justice purchased Hickstead from New Zealand the Australian cups scene was front of mind.
On Sunday at Wedderburn the four-year-old son of Mach Three showed his class with a tough win in the Travel Managers Wedderburn Pacing Cup over 2555 metres.
Despite travelling wide for the final 900m, the Justice-trained gelding – a grandson of Il Vicolo, who sired Hickstead’s mother Il Informed – had too much potency for Lucky Lombo and Uroc Mman in a mile rate of 2:00.9.
Justice said Hickstead was originally purchased because of his standing start manners, but his mobile gate form is also impressive, and he has won seven races since crossing the ditch despite Victoria's decision to cease stand-start pacing races – including a Mildura Guineas and Sunday’s Wedderburn Cup.
“He’s a really good distance horse. I think he could develop into a very nice open class horse hopefully,” Justice said.
“He seems very suited to Australian racing conditions and so far so good. He appreciated the extra trip on Sunday.”
Justice has earmarked Hickstead for South Australia Cup night at Globe Derby on January 7, where he could contest either the Justice Family Plate – a race sponsored by Justice’s family – or the Group 1 South Australian Cup.
“It’s always a special night for the whole family. We all get together and hopefully we can continue to be involved and keep it going,” Justice said.
Hickstead picked up four points in the $25,000 Own the Moment Trots Country Cups Championship as a result of his success.
Hectorjayjay leads the ladder on six points, one point clear of Major Secret, whose Geelong Cup success on Saturday took him into second placing on the ladder.
Earlier on the card Brent Lilley combined with Rod Petroff to win the Richmond and Associates Wedderburn Trotters Cup off a 10-metre mark with seven-year-old Sundon-Niamey gelding Sun Of Anarchy, defeating Coimadai Lodge and Herecomes The Cat in the 2555m race in a mile rate of 2:05.0.
Cody Winnell (HRV Media/Communications Manager)