23 April 2018 | Shane Yates
Greg Bransden’s patience and perseverance paid off in spades on Sunday night in Hobart when Sign of Oro scored its first win for the Glenorchy trainer.
Sign of Oro, came into Greg’s care six months ago and enjoyed a long spell before trialling in March and returning to the racetrack on April 8 with a ninth to Origin Cronk followed by solid fifth to Thirlstane King a week later.
Paul Hill was given the task of steering the eight-year-old Life Sign-Joan Oro gelding from outside the second line in a field of 13 over 1609 metres, a daunting task in anyone’s language.
When the tasracing mobile dispatched the field in the backstretch Paul set the $19 shot alight and swept around the field to take the lead in the run into the first corner.
“Paul’s decision to surge to the front was an inspired effort and he rated the horse to perfection from that point on, I’d have to give him 110% for the drive,” said a delighted trainer.
“You don’t drive 500 winners like Paul has without knowing what you’re doing that’s for sure'”.
Sign Of Oro held a two-metre advantage over Twenty Two Karat at the 400-metre pole as Hill started to lift the tempo, getting serious on the Bransden-trained gelding on straightening.
Delightful June-trained by Shaun Kennedy and driven by Justin Campbell, threw down the gauntlet to Sign Of Oro (pictured-inside) at the top of the stretch but the eight-year-old was up for the fight, digging deep in the run to the post to score by a half neck and record its first win in two years.
“It’s great to win a race, I’ve been around horses from an early age and obtained my trainer’s licence when I was 18, I’m 56 now so I’ve been in the game for a fair while'” said Greg
“I work 12-hour shifts in my employment, but I like to keep a horse around to stay involved in the sport, it’s always a little tricky to fit in working one but it’s my passion and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
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