Rookie East Maitland trainer Lily Hosking believes Sunny Town can rise to the challenge again at Newcastle on Friday night after delivering her a maiden victory.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Sunny Town, with a rating of 37, takes on the up to 52 grade race to open the card after winning easily at up to 50 level last week at the track.
A $14 chance, the four-year-old mare made the most of a smart drive from Hosking in behind the leader to power home and prevail by four metres in a career-best 1:58:7 mile rate over 2030m.
It was a third win in 54 starts for Sunny Town but a first for Hosking, 21, as a trainer. The mare is owned by Hosking's grandparents, Robin and Christine Hosking, who raised Lily, making the maiden win extra special.
"I've done a lot with her from the start," Lily said.
"I broke her in and did all the ground work with her, with help from other trainers at the track, so I've always been there for her and when I got my licence, I took over. A lot of credit goes to Pop as well for helping me to be able to train horses."
Lily has been driving for more than four years but only recently secured her trainers' licence. Last week's win came at Sunny Town's fourth start in her name.
She believed Sunny Town, her only horse racing, could repeat the effort on Friday.
"I definitely think she will be up there," she said.
"There's a couple of nice horses in it but I've chosen to go in that higher grade knowing she'd draw barrier one, so it's a risk you take.
"But I don't think there are any that are a lot better than her so she's a chance with the right run, which I think she'll get with her nice gate speed."
For faster access to the latest Newcastle news download our NEWCASTLE HERALD APP and sign up for breaking news, sport and what's on sent directly to your email.
IN THE NEWS:
- Biden enters White House as US president
- Former Knight Tom Starling pleads not guilty over Central Coast brawl at Kincumber as six charges dismissed
- Mobile speed camera vehicles to lose high-visibility decals
- 2021 Hunter Photography Prize: check out some of the entries
- Doctor Kelvin Kong on being named Newcastle Citizen of the Year