It was party time for the Nicholson team on Friday night after Bullys Delight returned to racing with a long-odds success at Tabcorp Park Melton.
The five-year-old hadn’t been seen at the races or the trials since April, but proved he was good to go with a sprint lane victory in the DNR Logistics Pace (1720m, NR 70-77).
The horse was given a great drive by Rhys Nicholson – the son of trainer John – who found the early lead and then handed up to Pradason, which he collared in the run to the line.
“30-1, when we get a winner like that, you know there is a party isn’t there? Dad had him spot on and he showed it tonight,” Rhys Nicholson said.
“He has had a lot of groundwork, the horse. He’s been off the place, had a couple of hobbles and Dad has just taken his time.
“He said he was ready, I said next week. Obviously the old boy is still right and I’m wrong. He proved it again.”
Trained in Mt Cottrell, Bullys Delight has now scored eight wins from 48 career runs for more than $60,000 in prizemoney.
While there was only one winner, it was a good night for the whole Nicholson team. Stablemates Smart Little Shard and Its Back In The Day both turned in impressive performances while finishing second and third respectively.
Ecklin South’s Matt Craven took training and driving honours on Friday evening for his winning double. In-form young trotter Pink Galahs made it three wins in succession this preparation by taking out the Alderbaran Park Trot (1720m, NR 61-74) narrowly over stablemate Gus An Maori, before Miss What Usain broke a run of narrow defeats to claim victory in the Catanach’s Jewellers Pace (1720m, mares NR 55-66).
Later in the card, Grant Campbell-trained Glenavril King continued his super sequence of form since arriving at the Great Western stable with a fifth win from six starts.
Driver Kerryn Manning had to get busy on the four-year-old a long way from home, but he responded to score a convincing triumph in the TAB Long May We Play Pace (2240m, 4YO and older).
“He’s quite a lazy horse and you’ve got to make him do everything and tonight he had an open bridle for the first time,” Manning explained.
“He was looking at everything. He was looking at the people on the inside down the back and half wanting to pull up and there was nothing near him either. If something (comes) near him, he sort of gets up on the bit a bit.
“He was very lazy and I had to keep reminding him to concentrate.”
Glenavril King was trained by Barry Dunn up until April this year, but had only won two of 19 starts.
Racing returns to Melton on Saturday night.
