Hobby trainer salutes in Midway Handicap

He’s a full-time courier by day, but Newcastle-based conditioner Scott Aspery has out-trained his rivals with Uzziah ($6) toughing it out to win the Midway Handicap.

The Outreach gelding had a ding-dong battle with early leader Kyeema ($7.50) all the way down the Rosehill straight, eventually getting the best of him to win by a long head. Burning Need ($18) was a further half length back in third place.

Aspery is building up a consistent record with his four-year-old who has now posted four wins and six placings from just 14 starts and earning over $155,000 in prize money in the process.

After experiencing some difficult runs in recent outings, Aspery was grateful to finally get the chocolates.

“Tough win, he had to work a bit early,” Aspery said.

“Got outside the leader and really toughed it out through the line.

“He hasn’t had a lot of luck this preparation, he’s always been three deep facing the breeze, caught up behind runners.”

The win means apprentice jockey Reece Jones is only one victory off outriding his claim, and Aspery was full of praise for his rider.

“Today it was a good move by Reece, you’ve got to give him full credit,” Aspery said.

“He knows the horse now and he put him in the right spot.

“He’s a nice horse going through the grades, he’s been a bit of fun for us.”

When asked how many horses he has in work, Aspery was quick to the point.

“Two. I’m flat out,” Aspery quipped.

After being in the irons for the past three starts with varying success, Jones was pleased to finally get the job done.

“He’s been racing well without winning,” Jones lamented.

“He had to do a bit of early work, he was caught in a bit of an awkward spot so I just took the luck out of it.

“It was head to head the whole way and he was really tough.

“Grateful to Scott for sticking with me. We’ve had a nice couple of runs there and I knew a win wasn’t too far away.”