Highly Geared tuned for Canberra return after belated maiden success
October 18, 2014
- by Jared Dorrington
Highly Geared’s maiden win at Canberra earlier this month was a long time coming for Garry Kirkup’s lightly raced five-year-old.
The Ad Valorem mare was left in the paddock by her owners because they could not afford a racing preparation. Hence they sold Highly Geared and the new owners sent her to the Canberra horseman about a year ago.
“A few of our owners got four fillys in a package,” Kirkup said. “Some bloke went bust and they got these four fillys cheap, and she [Highly Geared] was one of them.”
Highly Geared made a fair debut when seventh at Wagga on May 1 but followed that with a poor run at Queanbeyan 10 days later before being sent for a spell.
“Last time in she had just the two runs, but she was a bit shin sore and just not quite mature enough,” Kirkup said.
Following her break, Highly Geared returned to trackwork a different horse and Kirkup was confident the five-year-old would be a winning chance first-up, despite her $17 odds.
On October 10 at Thoroughbred Park she jumped cleanly and went to the lead of the 13-horse maiden plate (1000 metres) before holding off a challenge from Ainzali to score by almost half a length.
“[Jockey] Mathew [Cahill] said she just cruised along and had plenty there, so he let her run along a bit,” Kirkup said. “He’s one of the better jockeys going around and knows what he’s doing … she looks very promising. Mathew gave her a bit of a rap, so hopefully she’ll go on with it.
“She’s definitely going to win more races.”
Highly Geared will likely start at Canberra on Friday in a 1000m class-one handicap.