Trainer Grahame Begg was not as concerned as those punters who took the short odds about Ebony King prior to his race at Sandown.
Ebony King did not want to be loaded into the barriers for the Lady Of Racing Finalist Caroline Duddy (1400m) on Wednesday.
That is usually not a good sign, especially for a $1.55 (unibet) favourite, but Begg revealed after the four-year-old claimed the race from Tapa Capall ($4.80) by three-quarters-of-a-length that it was just one part of the gelding’s make-up.
Tough win from the favourite! 😤💪
Strong challengers chasing but was too strong for them!
EBONY KING🥇$1.80#poochiespunt 🐾
pic.twitter.com/yjsFT0x8Zt— Poochie (@PoochiesPunt) March 8, 2023
“That’s him,” Begg said.
“If they lock arms behind him, he goes straight into the gates.
“He’s always had that little characteristic. He’s wanted to be difficult to load, but he’s got the job done today, so we’ll keep on going through the grades with him.
“I think 1400 metres pulls him up a bit, maybe 1500 metres, so we’ll go home, let the dust settle and map out a plan.
“He’s a positive horse that goes the right way about it.”
Jockey Jordan Childs paid tribute to the barrier staff at Sandown for their perseverance in coaxing Ebony King into the barrier.
Once settled, Ebony King jumped smartly, as he does, and was able to control the race outside of the Craig Williams-ridden Bors.
“He’s done it every start and takes a bit of encouragement to go in, but the barrier boys do a good job, and they know him,” Childs said.
“Once they got around him, he did his part.
“I’m glad he did.
“He always begins well, and we were able to utilise that. Craig wanted to go a bit quicker, and we were happy to sit outside him.
“When he tried to ramp it up from the 600 metres, luckily, I had the horse there and was able to give a good kick at the finish.
Ebony King is just too quick for them