Molasses could be headed for a much-deserved spell after taking out the Sky Racing Warren Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) on Sunday afternoon.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
One of the leading sprinters in the western area, the Dennis Bush-trained Molasses was three wide as the field rounded the bend for home but was able to hold off the chasing pack in a showing of real strength in the $22,000 event.
Molasses’ owner Danny Kotel was on hand to watch the race, again wearing his now well-known lucky shirt, and he was delighted with the performance.
“He’s had quite a few runs this spell. We might need to put him in the paddock for a little while and give him a rest,” Kotel told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“He deserves some time off.”
While the three-quarter-of-a-length victory looked a relatively comfortable as Molasses passed the post, it was anything but.
Going from barrier nine, the widest in the field, Molasses ($4.80) was the best out of the gates before jockey Eleanor Webster-Hawes settled down behind Long Lasting (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $26) and Cadman (Mathew Cahill, $6.50).
Webster-Hawes peeled wide and began to move around the leading pair as the field started to turn for home and once into the straight she got Molasses to the lead.
The six-year-old gelding kicked on well but there was still plenty of work to do as Dar Lunn’s Zoutenant ($5.50) and Sugar Bay Leonard (Anthony Cavallo, $11) began to move forward.
But the biggest move came from the very back of the field as Know How (Brandon Griffiths, $51), newcomer to the Brett Thompson stables, surged after being last and more than seven lengths from the lead at one point.
Know How quickly began to threaten on the extreme outside but Molasses never faltered and won from Thompson’s hope while Zoutenant was third.
“We think he might be one of those horses that likes a bit of space,” Kotel said of Molasses potentially preferring the wide draw.
“Barrier one is not always brilliant and I think he’s one of those horses. He begins very quickly and gives the jockey some options.”
Kotel was also pleased to see Webster-Hawes continue her strong form in the saddle.
“She does a lot of work with him and that’s three times she’s ridden him now for two wins so we’re very happy and proud of her,” he added.