Broadford and Kilmore-based horse trainer Hanna Powell returned to the winners’ list last week at Seymour Racing Club, when Ultimate Kiss passed the post three lengths ahead of the field in race eight.
An $18 outsider heading into the 1200m race, Ultimate Kiss jumped well to lead momentarily, before jockey Stephen Brown Jr settled the horse into second on the rail with 800m to go.
As they rounded the bend into the home straight, Brown steered the horse out and alongside leader Eezee Boomer, before unleashing a powerful finish to storm home and claim a brilliant victory with ease.
While it may seem like a fairly standard victory, the reality is anything but.
For Powell, it was just the second time in 12 months that she has trained a winner, having last triumphed with Just Jake in September, again at Seymour.
Speaking to Racing.com following the win, 80-year-old Powell explained just how tough the past year had been on her stable.
“You have no idea what’s been going on,” she said.
“I have four horses in work. Just Jake was ready to go to Sandown, but he did something and he’s been out for a month.
“Kiss Me If You Can just had a throat operation yesterday, and Matao Ma, who was such a champion last year, has decided maybe we don’t feel like it this year.
“So, thank you, horse.”
What made the win all the more remarkable is the fact that Ultimate Kiss was in its first race back after being sidelined for 18 months by a tendon strain.
Despite a “disappointing” trial in Tatura, Powell backed her horse – and jockey – in, after Brown trialled him at Bendigo.
“I was fairly confident that he would place, but to win like that is such a bonus,” she said.
“I keep looking at his tendon all the time, like let’s make sure it lasts, but he’s been working good.”
The win comes after a torrid time for Brown, son of Seymour trainer Stephen Brown, who claimed his first victory since April last year.
Standing at 190cm, and said to be Australia’s tallest jockey, Brown only returned to racing last February following a three-and-a-half-year hiatus after a life-threatening fall which left him with brain trauma and a cracked neck.
“I love it (racing), it’s so good,” he told Racing.com after saluting the win.
“I was starting to doubt myself a bit there because it’s been a while since I’ve ridden a winner, a long time actually, so it was good to get the monkey off the back.
“It’s a big relief, a big confidence boost, I guess you could say.”