Muchacho shows plenty of macho

At the Wyndham Harness Racing Club meeting, five year old debutant Muchacho (Always B Miki) showed plenty of ticker in winning for Knapdale owner Kenny Baynes and his Gore trainer Tony Stratford.

Prior to today’s race the giant gelding had had three workouts and a trial but as today’s race showed he’s still as green as grass.

Driver Blair Orange settled Muchacho off the pace early before he started to move round the field on the bend out of the straight. As the horse improved, his sulky wheel made contact with Foxing Easton’s wheel and it clearly lifted off the ground. Muchacho put in a couple of rough strides before settling. Orange then moved him forward to sit parked.

When leader Vermeer Lustre started to run out of gas Orange got on the back of hot favourite Beaudiene Hunter. Muchacho managed to master Beaudiene Hunter before Foxing Easton stormed past them both to hit the front, but Muchacho was up for the fight and fought back to win by a head.

MUCHACHO REPLAY

“He’s a nice horse going forward. He’d trialled up really good. It’s different on race day though and he learnt something today and was still strong at the finish. Although there wasn’t much in it, Blair looked after him. He’s a big boy who probably needs his races spaced so we won’t be in a hurry to go back to the races,” Stratford said.

Muchacho is out of Alisa, an unraced Bettor’s Delight mare that’s also the dam of Mucho Macho Man, the winner of nine and Miss Mucho which won five before heading to Australia.

“I’ve just been patient and let him grow into himself. Time is the cheapest thing in racing. He’s been in a paddock with a whole lot of other geldings so I need to get them through the mill, but he’s a good start,” Baynes said.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink