In racing, a single year brings massive changes.

Twelve months prior, Hughes secured a benchmark 70 over the 1400m at Caulfield in his early days with Gavin Bedggood. Come Saturday, this gelding triumphed in the Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m), clocking a new track record.

Jett Stanley delivered a flawless ride on Hughes ($19), who trailed early then surged through the pack to triumph by 1½ lengths over Athanatos ($11), followed a length behind by Meridius ($9.50) in third.

Gavin Bedggood expressed surprise at the gelding’s display.

“He won a benchmark 70 on this day last year,” Bedggood said.

“But he’s a very easy horse to train. We learnt that fresh is best and we just try and space his runs.

“He was four weeks between runs today. He doesn’t do a lot of work. He had a gallop on Monday morning and then we’ve pretty much left him alone.

“It seems to work well for him, but I thought he might be getting to the end of it.

“He got very hot pre-race when I was saddling him up and I was worried about that, but it was a great ride and full credit to the horse.”

Bedggood’s post-Echuca Cup (1400m) win guidance to Stanley was uncomplicated.

“What I said was ride him ‘second half’,” he explained.

“He has to be ridden where he’s comfortable. We’ve tried riding him close in lesser grade and it hasn’t worked for him.

“John Allen got it right last time and Jett executed it to a tee today.

“He really likes that ducking and weaving sort of ride. He’s not a big horse, but he loves getting amongst other horses and it works very well for him.”

Next for Hughes is a quick beach holiday as connections plan ahead.

The trainer floated the Golden Mile (1600m) at Bendigo as a future option next month.

“He’ll go and have his week at the beach,” Bedggood said.

“Maybe the Golden Mile could be a race as that works within the four-week time frame, but he’ll tell us.”

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