Clint Lundholm feels slot holders in The Kosciuszko could do a lot worse than pick Joey's Destiny after the ultra-consistrent gelding produced another stellar showing at Dubbo Turf Club on Sunday.
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The hometown trainer recorded a quinella in the day's feature sprint event, the Dubbo Cup Day Showcase Flying Handicap (1100m), with Joey's Destiny winning ahead of stablemate Any Blinkin' Day.
The victory followed up Joey's Destiny's win in the sprint prelude event, and continues his run of not finishing worse than fourth since October of 2016.
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“We like to dream and now he's put another win on the board we think we could maybe sneak a spot,” Lundholm said, the winning slot holders for the $1.3 million country feature were chosen on Friday.
“We're not proven in the city but we're a deadset bush horse who's consistent, tough, and winning so you would not have this horse going any better.”
In a shock to no one, Greg Ryan produced a masterful effort in the saddle of Joey's Destiny and that led Lundholm to secroibe the champion jockey as a "genius".
Going from out in barrier 10, five-year-old Joey's Destiny jumped well and sat in the leading pack as Lundholm had tipped.
The Kody Nestor-trained Kenny Succeed ($9.50) led the way early on, while Ryan got himself within striking distance in fourth behind Enjoyable ($41) and Johnny Roo Boy ($4.40).
Kenny Succeed led them into the straight, while Joey’s Destiny ($3.80 favourite) started to make ground.
Ryan wheeled wide on the straight and with 200m to go, Joey’s Destiny really got into his stride.
He went on to win by a strong one-and-three-quarter lengths from the fast finishing Any Blinkin’ Day ($91) while Kenny Succeed hung on for third.
“He put them away really well the other day (in the prelude) and people said it was just the wet track but he was unproven on the wet track, all his form was on the good,” Lundholm said.
“I was more confident today than I was last time.”
Joey’s Destiny now has seven wins and nine placings from 24 starts, and has always been a horse Lundholm has been particularly fond of.
“My father had a wrap on this horse when we weened him off his mother,” he said.
“We got him to break him and he had grown and he (my father) said 'he'll be one of the best horses you'll have in work' and he is, he's flying.”
The winning trainer was also delighted to see Any Blinkin’ Day get back towards his best, saying “it was great to see the old boy firing again”.
The seven-year-old was a potential Gold Cup candidate at one point but will now target the Coonamble Cup on October 7.
Lunholm’s biggest piece of praise was saved for Ryan.
The jockey with more than 3000 career winners only scored one victory on Sunday, but it was enough of a showing of his talents for all those in attendance.
“He's a superstar, what else can you say about Greg,” Lundholm said.
“From gate 10 with speed in the race, he ended up one-one. He's an absolute genius and I love having him on my horses.”
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