G3 Sprint Winner for Reliable Man

Media Release - Saturday October 17

Cambridge visitor Hypnos gained his second victory at stakes level the hard way when he held out the late charge of race favourite Rock On Wood to win the Group III Red Badge Spring Sprint (1400m) at Hastings.

Hypnos (middle) holds out Rock On Wood (outer) and Vigor Winner (inner) to win the Gr.3 Red Badge Spring Sprint (1400m) at Hastings Photo Credit: Trish Dunell

The Reliable Man five-year-old was Group One placed in the Levin Classic (1600m) as a three-year-old but had disappointed on several occasions during his four-year-old season where he won one of his six starts.

An encouraging second first up a fortnight ago at the venue, this time the Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained galloper went one better after a peach of a ride from the in-form Danielle Johnson.

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Kept wide off an outside barrier draw, Johnson didn’t panic as she had her charge relaxed and rolling along nicely towards the rear before improving sharply on the home bend. Johnson urged Hypnos to the front early in the run home and he defied his rivals over the last 300m to score by a nose from Rock On Wood, with Vigor Winner a half-length back in third.

“He toughed it well and he was ridden well,” Roger James said.

“I told anyone who wanted to listen that his work on Monday morning was just sparkling.

“My biggest concern was the track but he copped it okay.

“We want to get to Riccarton with him (Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile, 1600m), so we have some options before then but it really depends on how he returns from this one.

“I’m thrilled for his connections as they were my original owners and the first people I ever bought a yearling for.”

Hypnos is raced by Fran and Ron Dixon after James purchased him for the Wellington couple from the Westbury Stud draft for $50,000 during the 2017 Select Yearling sale at Karaka.

James was also pleased with his stable star Two Illicit who finished off well for fifth behind Melody Belle in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m).

“She was down in the worst of the going but as I said before the race, the Spring is not easy for a four-year-old mare,” he said.

“She will go in the paddock now and she will come back better.”

Hypnos has won four of his 21 starts and $171,000 in prizemoney. TAB Bookmakers have moved him into the $7 favourite for the Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) at Riccarton on November 11. – NZ Racing Desk

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Race Result - Red Badge Spring Sprint Gr3 1400m

Hastings Track: Slow(8) Time: 1:26.08
1
Hypnos
- 5g Reliable Man (GB) x Quality Dream (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: R James & R Wellwood Rdr: D S Johnson 53
MM Gold Coast National Yearling Sale $75,000
Seller: Westbury Stud Ltd, Karaka, NZ
Buyer: Winners Bloodstock
2
0.1
Rock On Wood
- 6g Redwood (GB) x Rock On Rye (AUS) (Catcher In The Rye (IRE))
Tnr: Ms L Elliot Rdr: R T Elliot 57.5
3
0.6
Vigor Winner
- 5g Declaration Of War (USA) x Savont (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Ms L Brennan Rdr: C J Grylls 53
4
1.4
Motivation
- 6g Mastercraftsman (IRE) x Tenacity (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: J G Bary Rdr: S T Collett 53
5
2.7
London Express
- 5m Shamexpress (NZ) x London Dream (NZ) (Handsome Ransom (AUS))
Tnr: S A Sharrock Rdr: R H Schofer 54
6
3.1
Go Nicholas
- 9g Danroad (AUS) x Witches Britches (NZ) (Exploding Prospect (USA))
Tnr: Ms S Hale Rdr: T Yanagida 56.5
7
3.9
Spring Tide
- 4g Darci Brahma (NZ) x Spring Fever (NZ) (Traditionally (USA))
Tnr: C A Bambry Rdr: L T Hemi 53
8
5.2
Magnum
- 8g Per Incanto (USA) x Sound Lover (NZ) (Sound Reason (CAN))
Tnr: Ms L Brennan Rdr: L G Innes 55
9
6.7
Sheezallmine
- 5m Super Easy (NZ) x Bast (AUS) (Tale Of The Cat (USA))
Tnr: Daniel Miller Rdr: S R Weatherley 54
10
6.9
Our Alley Cat
- 4m Atlante (AUS) x Cat Woman (NZ) (Scaredee Cat (NZ))
Tnr: V A Prendergast Rdr: T D Thornton 53
11
11.7
Donna Anne Billy
- 8m Tavistock (NZ) x Shinko Bay (NZ) (Shinko King (IRE))
Tnr: W K Pomare Rdr: D G Bradley 53
12
15.0
True Enough
- 7g Nom Du Jeu (NZ) x Valda's Dream (NZ) (Sakura Seeking (USA))
Tnr: M Baker & A Forsman Rdr: J K Riddell 60.5
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