DUBBO trainer Darren Hyde has been around horses for a long time but he had one of his most pleasing days at the track at Bathurst on Sunday.
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His consistent middle-distance horse Cardiff Prince confirmed his standing as one of the best horses in the region when he won the $25,000 Sky Legends Of Racing Bathurst Cup (1800m) but it was the effort of one of his lighter-raced horses that could take the trainer to the big time.
Found At Last emerged as a serious contender for the Western Districts heat of the Country Championships at Dubbo on March 22 with a brilliant win in the Magic Millions Tulloch Cup (1200m).
"They were both pretty special wins and it added up to a pretty special day," Hyde said.
"Cardiff Prince was trained by Tommy Mulholland before he passed away and is still owned by Tom's daughters, so to win the Bathurst Cup with him was a big thrill.
"And Found At Last has put me in a position to have a runner in that $100,000 championship heat at Dubbo."
Both of Hyde's runners were ridden by Cowra hoop Mathew Cahill, whose riding has gone to another level in recent weeks.
Cahill turned in 10/10 performances on both horses, allowing them to settle off the speed before finding clear running in the home straight.
Cardiff Prince was sent out as a $5.50 chance in the cup on the back of some solid recent form, and despite his colours appearing similar to rival Are You Sure when Cahill lost the cloth from his cap but Hyde knew exactly where his gelding was in the run.
The five-year-old beat Platinum Jack ($20.00, Kevin May) by a neck, with Spirit Mania ($8.50, Richard Bensley) finishing third.
"It was a bit funny when he was being called Are You Sure down the straight but I knew it was my horse that was looming," Hyde said.
"He's a horse that never runs a bad race and I think he's won seven from 27 now and almost $80,000 in prize money.
"Tom bought him as a weanling and before he passed he asked me to keep the stables going, and the girls wanted me to keep this horse in work and he's been the horse that has put me on the map."
If Cardiff Prince has put Hyde on the map, Found At Last may be the one that puts him at Randwick on Country Championship final day.
While Binalong Road and One Last Poet have booked their spots in the $300,000 final courtesy of running first and second in the Bathurst heat, Hyde's four-year-old is now a serious contender for the Dubbo heat.
On Sunday, Found At Last ($7.00) stormed home from back in the field to defeat Pay Zone Princess ($5.00 eq fav, Jess Taylor) and Born Superstar ($12.00, Jay Ford).
"He won over 1400m at Dubbo earlier last month but he wouldn't have wanted 1401m that day," Hyde said.
"But then the way he found the line on Sunday over 1200m suggests he should be given his chance. These $100,000 heats are massive and if you can get into the final then that's even bigger.
"The form he is in I think he deserves his chance in the Dubbo race. Mathew has the key to how to ride the horse and while he's in the form he's in we have to aim him at that race."