Written by Richard Edmunds
A change of tactics worked wonders for River Views (Written Tycoon) in Saturday’s Neds VOBIS Gold Ingot at Caulfield – and shone the spotlight on an undefeated stablemate.
Winless in five previous career appearances, the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained River Views went into Saturday’s $150,000 race under the radar and at long odds. In his most recent start, the chestnut gelding had finished a distant second at Wodonga beaten by 6l by his first-starting stablemate Head First (Headwater).
But River Views defied his $41 starting price on Saturday and stormed home from last to score a remarkable 1l win, with Price and Kent Jnr’s other runner Sunfall (Zoustar) close up in third. The stablemates were split by the runner-up Umgawa (Shamus Award).
“This bodes well for our other horse (Head First) that beat him by 6l at Wodonga last start,” Kent Jnr said. “This is a massive surprise. We weren’t sure that he could win today at all. But it’s a fantastic result and we’re rapt for the owners.
“Sunfall ran very well too and just found a bit of traffic in the straight, but what a massive win by the winner.”
A close relative of the Listed winner and G2 Edward Manifold S. placegetter Sparks Fly (Flying Spur), River Views was offered by breeders Diamond Park Breeding and Racing at the 2020 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, where he came up short of his $150,000 reserve.
River Views as a yearling
From six starts, River Views has now had a win, three placings and $130,660 in stakes.
While River Views had raced on or near the speed in his recent appearances, jockey Patrick Moloney decided to try a change of tack at Caulfield. It turned out to be a masterstroke.
“He’s a horse who’s always had to do a lot of work up at the other end of the race, having to press forward and lead, and he hasn’t really been hitting the line at the end,” Moloney said.
“I didn’t ride him last start – I was on the stablemate that won quite comprehensively – but he was ridden a little bit quieter that day, and I thought the way he hit the line was the best he’s done so far.
"I didn’t ride him (River Views) last start – I was on the stablemate (Head First) that won quite comprehensively – but he was ridden a little bit quieter that day, and I thought the way he hit the line was the best he’s done so far." - Patrick Moloney
“So I went to Michael and Mick this morning and said, ‘What do you reckon about riding this horse quietly? I reckon he’ll have to do too much work from the wide draw.’ I’ve been doing quite a bit of work for them now, and they were happy to back me. I’m glad they did, because the horse has won quite comprehensively today.
“He actually surprised me how well he let down. We were hoping for a nice run into the top six, but he’s surprised us, and now we might have worked out the way to ride him.”
Patrick Moloney
Head First, who beat River Views so emphatically at Wodonga on debut on July 11, has not yet returned to the racetrack for what will now be an eagerly anticipated second start.
The Headwater filly was bought by Mick Price Racing for $110,000 at the 2020 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, and she is out of Moon Of Baroda (Shamardal {USA}) – a placed daughter of the G1 Blue Diamond winner True Jewels (Brief Truce {USA}), who is also the dam of stakes winner Villain (Carnegie {USA}) and the Listed-placed Fashion (Encosta De Lago).
