MULTIPLE champion New Zealand jockey Lance O'Sullivan was the first to thank starter Michael Tibbatts after an emphatic win on Golden Heart in yesterday's fourth race at Sha Tin, writes Lawrence Wadey.
But it was a win for the Stephen Leung-trained gelding that was so nearly wrecked in the gates. Tibbatts literally had his finger on the red button, the gates ready to fly, when Golden Heart decided to take a dive. 'I shouted so loudly for the starter to hold them that they tell me I could be heard on the top balcony of the grandstand,' laughed O'Sullivan.
'But full marks to the starter because many others wouldn't have been able to react in time. The field would have been gone and so would our chance of winning. He's a real professional.' Golden Heart was always moving well for O'Sullivan who punched him out to hold Team Valour by 13/4 lengths. There was another 11/4 lengths back to Joint Account in third.
Golden Heart's success lifted the accomplished O'Sullivan into double figures for his three-month stint while for Leung he was win number 22 in only his second season with a licence. Time Fit looked one to avoid in future after finding little when let down by Patrick Payne.
The Australian import arrived with a reputation for being less than resolute and yesterday went from travelling really well to a beaten horse in a matter of strides once they straightened for home.