Persistence paid a big dividend when God’s Shadow strode home a dominant maiden winner at Geelong.
God’s Shadow had shown ability but provided a challenge for Rebecca Waymouth to get the best out of the four-year-old in his summer campaign.
God’s Shadow had raced well at Sale and Sandown before struggling at 2060m at Cranbourne but Waymouth knew a win was around the corner for the gelding.
Waymouth tried a crossover noseband, earmuffs and winkers before the combination of blinkers and a barrier blanket worked best in the Winter & Taylor Isuzu Maiden Plate (1725m).
A calm ride from Daniel Stackhouse also helped as the underrated jockey kept God’s Shadow travelling kindly while a tearaway leader set a quick pace up front for the first 1100m.
God’s Shadow strode into the $17,500 contest easily rounding the home turn before taking the lead with 200m to run.
The runner-up provided a minor challenge at the 150m but God’s Shadow remained strong to the finish as he posted a welcome 1-¼-length win.
God’s Shadow earned connections a $12,500 winner’s cheque, which took his stakes tally to more than $23,000.
Congratulations to God’s Shadow’s owners and all involved with his extremely satisfying win.
© MiStable 2015