Hocking On Top Of World After City Winner
- Wednesday, 19 October 2011 05:59
The excitement fell well short of the dizzy heights of former Group One winner Goleen but trainer Neil Hocking was on top of the world after landing his first city success with plunge winner Mountain Of Gold at Eagle Farm.
Mountain Of Gold, who was backed from $101 to $41, defied her poor form to win Wednesday's www.brc.com.au Maiden Handicap (1200m) by three-quarters of a length over topweight Tiyatro.
Hocking is the son of former Brisbane trainer Ian Hocking who won the 1984 Group One Thousand Guineas at Caulfield and the Flight Stakes at Randwick when it was a Group Two with former top Queenslander Goleen.
"I used to strap Goleen for Dad but I gave racing away for about 15 years," Hocking said.
Hocking, who has been training for only four years, operated a Brisbane milk run and food wholesale business during his period away from racing.
"It's quite a thrill to train my first city winner and it's a lot more fun than doing a milk run and running the food wholesale business," Hocking said.
Hocking only has five horses in work but admitted he was set to cut Mountain Of Gold from his stable had her form not improved sharply.
"I've got five in work but it was almost four," Hocking said.
"She just saved herself from retirement."
Hocking's moment in the sun was soured temporarily when he was questioned by stewards over the six-year-old's form reversal.
Mountain Of Gold went into the race without a single placing from 10 starts.
The daughter of Monashee Mountain finished last in a field of 11 at her latest appearance over 1800 metres at the Gold Coast on September 24.
She was previously beaten at big odds at her two previous starts at Caloundra.
"There was a lot of top dressing at Caloundra and I don't think she appreciated the sandy surface," Hocking told stewards.
"She certainly was a different horse today but I'd kept her fresh after she was beaten last start."
Hocking's victory was the 16th win of his training career which included five wins with Mountain Of Gold's half-brother, Semi Wells.
Meanwhile, trainer Trevor Whittington rated promising filly Edinglassie Girl a winter carnival contender next year following her three-length win in the Kedron-Wavell Services Club Maiden (1200m).
The daughter of Commands cost $175,000 at last year's Magic Millions sales and was having only her fourth start.
"She's a very good filly and I think she'll make a nice carnival horse next year," Whittington said.
"She's by Commands and if I get my way I'll put her in the paddock and get her ready for the Queensland Oaks.
"The Doomben Roses over 2000 metres is going to be an ideal race for her."
