Viscount's Great Again Toughs It Out in Straight Six

Mark Smith - Saturday May 23

Making his first start since finishing down the track at Ballarat back in November, the striking black gelding Great Again toughed it out in a slogging finish to Saturday’s Listed Hilton Nicholas Straight Six (1200m) at Flemington.Grat Again emerges from the mirk for his third stakes win (Natasha Morello/Racing Photos)

The former West Australian headed east after winning a pair of Listed stakes races at Belmont in August last year with his owner-breeder Geoff Evans saying he was chasing wet tracks with the 7yo son of Viscount.

He found one here with Declan Bates guiding the Lindsay Smith-trained gelding to a half-head victory over the fast-finish of cult hero Rich Charm (Danerich) with the topweight Home Of The Brace (Starspangledbanner) carrying his 62kgs into third, a further long-head back.

Great Again Declan Bates (Natasha Morello/Racing Photos)

“That was brilliant, it was a top win, he’s a beautiful horse,” stable representative Shane Jackson said.  

“Declan rode him a treat. We said just use that big stride that he has and he was really tough when they were coming at him late.

“It’s good to get him back because Lindsay has always had a huge opinion of him.

“We didn’t go to the Wangoom because Lindsay said it wasn’t wet enough for him. That’s the genius of Lindsay Smith who said from day one this horse grows another leg on the heavy ground and he proved that today.”

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Viscount the sire of Great Again image Mark Smith

Bred by Geoff Evans’ Distinct Racing and Breeding, the lightly raced Great Again advances his record to 10 wins, 4 seconds and 2 thirds from 22 starts with earnings of $455,700.

He is the best of three winners from five to race out of the top-class Free At Last (Senor Pete) whose 10 wins included the WATC CB Cox Stakes

The 21yo mare has a yearling colt by Pierro, who failed to make his $300,000 reserve at the recent Easter Yearling Sale, and was covered by Churchill (IRE) last spring.

Great Again is one of 17 stakes-winner by the triple Group winner Viscount (Quest For Fame) who died in 2016.

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Race Result - Hilton Nicholas Straight Six LR 1200m

Flemington Track: Heavy(8) Time: 1:11.35
1
Great Again
- 7g Viscount (AUS) x Free At Last (NZ) (Senor Pete (USA))
Tnr: L Smith Rdr: Declan Bates 57
2
0.1
Rich Charm
- 7g Danerich (AUS) x Charmly (AUS) (Kingston Mill (USA))
Tnr: Ms U Clarke Rdr: Patrick Moloney 58.5
3
0.3
Home Of The Brave
- 8g Starspangledbanner (AUS) x Blissful Beat (GB) (Beat Hollow (GB))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: B Rawiller 62
4
1.5
Malibu Style
- 8g Magnus (AUS) x Origami (AUS) (Fusaichi Pegasus (USA))
Tnr: N D Parnham Rdr: Ben Thompson 59.5
5
2.5
Rich Itch
- 4g Danerich (AUS) x Seven Year Itch (AUS) (Keltrice (AUS))
Tnr: Shawn Mathrick Rdr: D Dunn 56
6
2.6
Rox The Castle
- 5g Castledale (IRE) x Run Roxy Run (AUS) (Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE))
Tnr: Ms K Edwards Rdr: Jack Martin 58
7
2.7
Lord Von Costa
- 7g Von Costa De Hero (AUS) x Cashed Up Lady (AUS) (Dash For Cash (AUS))
Tnr: Ms D Scott Rdr: Craig Williams 56
8
3.1
La Tigeresa
- 5m Street Cry (IRE) x Tellora (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: Jason Warren Rdr: Jamie Kah 56
9
3.6
Holbien
- 5g Pierro (AUS) x Carribean Sunset (IRE) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: S J Richards Rdr: Lachlan King 56
10
5.9
Haunted
- 5g Lonhro (AUS) x Seances (AUS) (Canny Lad (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: D Oliver 57
11
8.1
Miss Iano
- 6m Equiano (FR) x Miss Panama (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: Mark C Webb Rdr: B Melham 56
12
8.2
Romancer
- 6g Redwood (GB) x Romantically (AUS) (Foreplay (AUS))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: Jordan Childs 56.5
13
9.7
Milwaukee
- 6g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Hummingbird (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Jye McNeil 57
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