Earning a spot in the $500,000 Country Championships Final was something of a bittersweet moment for Gayna Williams on Wednesday.
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On one hand it's an exciting moment for Williams and connections of Healing Hands as he gets another shot at the lucrative final, but on the other hand it's come at the cost of Central Districts Racing Association (CDRA) Country Championships heat winner Old Harbour.
Old Harbour was found to have sustained a tendon injury following a run at Hawkesbury on Tuesday.
Wellington trainer Michael Mulholland then advised Racing NSW stewards Old Harbour would require veterinary treatment and a spell, taking him out of contention for the April 3 final.
Williams was informed on Wednesday that Healing Hands had gained a start in the Country Championships Final courtesy of being the third placed finisher in the CDRA heat.
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Healing Hands joins the Dean Mirfin-trained Hamogany, another Bathurst galloper, as the Central West qualifiers.
Wednesday's call came as a shock to Williams, who was in the middle of making final preparations with Healing Hands to attend the Country Championship Wild Card race at Muswellbrook.
"I feel very sorry and disappointed for Michael Mulholland and [jockey] Kath Bell-Pitomac and the team because it must be very disappointing to have to scratch their horse through injury," Williams said.
"To get him this far and then have to scratch him - I feel immensely for what they would be going through at the moment."
It's a lucky break for Williams considering she had plenty of doubts about whether the planned second-chance event at Muswellbrook would suit her gelding.
"I was concerned because it was over 1280 metres," Williams said.
"He ran through the line well at Mudgee but I think the classiest heat is generally the wild card so now I'd have to say I'm feeling more confident now that he's gone straight through to the final, which is over the 1400m.
"He's going to be much better suited over that distance, and especially at a big track like Randwick.
"It will be a classy field in the final, and it's never easy to win those sorts of races. You do need a bit of luck but I must say I'm feeling more confident about the final than I would have been about this weekend."
After winning the Mudgee heats last year, Healing Hands ran a fine race in the final bad did find some bad luck.
He ran into a wall of horses across the final 400 metres and didn't find the gap or the room he needed to build up speed.
Despite that, Healing Hands was only 1.3 lengths off winner Gracie Belle.
"You've got to get him rolling and give him plenty of galloping room with an uninterrupted run," Williams said.
"He's a leggy horse with a big stride. He doesn't let down as such, or quicken, he actually only lengthens in his stride and builds to the line."
Alexander Grant
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
