The pair successfully teamed up at Wangaratta on Thursday to take out the $15,000 BM52 Handicap over 2000m, the triumph King’s Hand’s sixth of his career — and fifth with a female jockey.
Owner-trainer John Pearson said the nine-year-old gelding heavily favoured a female rider, as well as the claim.
“A little 4kg apprentice, Hannah, has only been riding three weeks and has ridden seven winners,” he said.
“She rode him an absolute treat.”
Edgley came into the race already a winner from the previous race, with King’s Hand helping her land the double — the second of her career.
And it did not matter what was thrown up at King’s Hand, Pearson said the nine-year-old was the ultimate all-rounder, winning from 1200m to 2000m and on wet and dry tracks.
“It’s the first time he’s won over 2000m,” Pearson said.
“I was a bit worried about the track drying out, but he really liked the hard ground.
“He’s a tough bugger, it’s his third run in 12 days.”
In his latest preparation, King’s Hand has been close to breaking though, finishing second at Avoca and St Arnaud, before a fourth at Wycheproof.
“Avoca, he was really stiff, he got boxed in on the fence and couldn’t get out until late,” Pearson said.
“He backed up at St Arnaud, everybody thought he got there but he didn’t. He just fell short.
“And Wycheproof he wasn’t far away, but it’s a funny little track, you have to get going early.”
This time though, everything fell the way of King’s Hand, coming home strong to stretch his winning lead to two lengths at the post.
“It was a very average race, the favourite was scratched and the other one bolted, so everything fell our way,” Pearson said.
“But he hit the line real good.”
Last week’s win brings up $100,000 in prize money won for the gelding, a feat Pearson has earmarked ahead of his latest preparation.
“When I was giving him a spell over winter time, I said to one of my mates, I’m going to bring him back and get him over the $100,000 if I can,” Pearson said.
“They laughed at me.
“But he had a good spell over winter and has come back real good.”
With King’s Hand in winning form, Pearson said the plan forward had now shifted.
“I was going to give him a let up and go for Kerang at Christmas, but with him winning the way he did the other day, I might take him to Swan Hill for a 2400m in a fortnight,” Pearson said.
“He had one there last year and didn’t run a bad race and is probably running better this time.”
Pearson also had Praetor in the running at Wangaratta, though the four-year-old ran sixth from nine over 1590m.
He is yet to break his maiden from 23 starts, with two seconds and two thirds.
Pearson said Praetor was not as good a prospect as King’s Hand was, but he expected him to win a race somewhere soon.
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