BAANONE SALUTES AT A LONG PRICE IN A FIRST-UP WIN

By Graham Potter | Saturday, April 9, 2022

What a win! What a training feat! What a price!

Take your pick of any of the above descriptions … they all apply (big time) to Baanone’s first-up win for the Tony and Maddysen Sears training partnership in a BM78 Handicap over 1350m at Doomben on April 9.

The seven-year-old son of Shocking had won in his fourth start for the Sears yard (after transferring from the Bjorn Baker stable) back in August 2021. He had four further starts in that preparation, but was failing to fire in the last two of those starts … and he was then given just over a four month break from race action by the Sears camp.

On his return at Doomben, it could have been argued that the 1350m might be short of his best distance, but Baanone was fresh, first-up (he had won first-up before) and he previously shown a liking for soft going having previously won three times and placed second on that surface. Also, apprentice Kyle Wilson-Taylor was claiming 2kg, a very useful pull at the weights when linked to such a competent rider.

But most punters, didn’t want to know.

Baanone started at $26 … with a lot more being on offer earlier in the betting … and anybody who took the long odds were already rubbing their hands in glee at the 200m mark, where Baanone surged forward to asset his authority in no uncertain terms, coming home more like an odds-on shot, with ears pricked, to win by a clearcut 1.75 lengths.

Baanone jumped from barrier one, but Wilson-Taylor was in no hurry, choosing to settle Baanone just worse than midfield, some five to six lengths off the leader, in the early part.

In a very patient ride, Wilson-Taylor was happy to hold his position until the field straightened for home.

At that stage the $21 chance Coup was trying to make every post a winning one and Baanone was still five lengths adrift of the lead … but not for long.

Coming through the 200m mark Wilson-Taylor angled Baanone inbetween runners and, when he hit top gear 100m later, it was race over as Baanone came home in style to claim the eighth win of his career and take his earning to just shy of $300 000.

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