Natalie Young has praised the patience of Michael Walker in guiding Snogging to a first-up victory at Bendigo.
After being badly locked away, Walker was able to find clear air passing the 200m mark, taking Snogging to a narrow victory in Saturday’s Bendigo Gold Bracelet (1400m).
“It was a great ride as at the 300-metre mark I thought we were going nowhere,” Young, who trains in partnership with Trent Busuttin, said.
Sent off a $21 chance, Snogging fought off Clarice Cliffs ($9) to score by a short-head with the early leader Twitchy Frank ($8) a neck away third.
Young was surprised by the starting price of Snogging, saying the mare had terrific first-up form despite having not won since April 2018.
“She had a gleam in her coat and paraded so well so I don’t know why she was such big odds,” Young said.
“She’d trialled really well and in her jump-outs she was under a hold and she’s been galloping the house down.”
Young said planning for the future was a day-to-day prospect with COVID-19 hanging over the industry.
“We’re sort of in limbo and we just have to hope that racing keeps going,” Young said.
“We’ve been extra diligent each morning. We spend an extra hour after trackwork wiping everything down, door knobs, light switches, everything.
“We don’t want a case of COVID-19.
“We just have to hope that if the worst happens and we can’t race that the training centres can stay open.
“It’s not like people at home who can just take their dogs out for a walk.
“These horses need care and continual work.”