Rash race-day decisions are something most trainers try to avoid, and Gavin Bedggood believes patience has paid off with Hedged as the gelding lines up in Friday night’s Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Pakenham.
The four-year-old looked the real deal when claiming the Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m) at Sandown on Boxing Day, but failed to reproduce that form when a disappointing second-last as a $2.90 favourite in the Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m) two weeks later.
Bedggood admitted he initially considered pulling the pin after the Flemington run.
“I said straightaway post-race at Flemington that he would go to the paddock and you shouldn’t make decisions on a race day,” Bedggood said.
“We went home and couldn’t fault the horse. My vet couldn’t find anything untoward so hence he’s lining up in this race.”
The trainer suggested conditions on the day played a major role in the disappointing result.
“It was a weird day down the straight. The leaders in most races didn’t fare well and the horses in that race who went forward got swallowed up very quickly and horses out wide just dropped out.”
Hedged currently sits second elect at $6 for the Australia Stakes, behind the in-form War Machine, who has firmed into $1.55 first-up with online bookmakers.
“We’ll just ride him comfortably and leave it up to Harry Coffey,” Bedggood added.
Bedggood was also active at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale, playing a part in securing a $330,000 son of Written Tycoon out of Hedged’s dam Acing Shamrock.
Later in the weekend, the stable will also be represented by Hughes in the Listed John Dillon Stakes (1400m) as he builds toward feature races in Tasmania.
“He’s a victim of his own success,” Bedggood said.
“He sort of found his level but since has been racing well without winning.
“This will set him up well for Tasmania.”
Punters keen to follow Hedged or Hughes this weekend can compare markets through leading Australian betting sites.
The post Bedggood Hedging across the weekend first appeared on Just Horse Racing.
