BALLARAT trainer Archie Alexander knew with Darren Weir out of the way this was his perfect opportunity to secure his first victory at the TAB May Racing Carnival.
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But Alexender had turned his back late in the race as Connery burst through to pip the Trent Busuttin-trained Czechoslovakia and Jarrod McLean's Northern River by less the a length as he passed the post.
"I was thinking god (jockey) Jordy (Jordan Childs) has ridden this well before the straight and with 50 to a 100 to go I kind of just walked away and thought he was going to run a good fourth of fifth," he said.
"But I don't know how he got through. He has that determination and I said to (part-owner) Darren Dance he is not the best horse we have got but he is tough and had a lot of setbacks but he never gives up.
"It just shows in the last 50 most are giving up and running a good third or fourth but he just never stops.
"It was a great effort and this horse has been a very hard horse to keep right and had knee surgery in the past and it's great for ATB ( Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock Pty Ltd) as Darren is a big supporter of ours."
Alexander, who returned for his fourth carnival this week, was relived to get his first win under the belt in a year without a prominent south-west trainer in attendance.
"It feels really good as it's a bloody tough carnival to have a winner but I think Darren Weir targeted this meeting so heavily it was hard to get a look in," he said.
"But this year it has been a bit more open because without him targeting there is not really any trainer who is dominant and it has opened it up a bit.
"It's nice to get a winner here and owners love winning here."
Jockey Jordan Child's said he had to be patient as he looked for an opening to burst in to.
"We were back in the field and I got a nice enough run through but I was just waiting on runs at the top of the straight and had to move my way out," he said.
"But once he got out he was really good to the line. It's been a huge effort by Archie and his team this horse has had it's fair share of problems.
"They have got him back on the right track now and hopefully he will just go through the grades. I think he is doing really well."
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Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
