PUCKISH BOUNCES BACK TIO SCORE AN OVERDUE WIN

By Graham Potter | Thursday, April 14, 2022

Puckish ($8.50) came good in a BM 60 Handicap over 2150m at Toowoomba on April 14, claiming a fourth career victory.

It had been a long time between drinks for the Michael Nolan trained four-year-old gelding … who last hit a hot spot of form when winning two races in succession at Kilcoy back in July 2021 … but, as is so often the case when a horse is overdue for a win … when the moment arrived, it wins well.

Monty Savva took Puckish right back to last from the extreme outside draw at the break and Puckish continued to race at the rear of field, going down the back straight with all ten of his rivals stretched out in front of him as Savva biding her time some ten lengths off the leader.

Savva was still riding Puckish stone cold with less than 1000m to run. 600m from home, in the middle of the sweep to the turn, Puckish was still last and still those ten lengths adrift of the leader Elizano ($8) who was now setting sail for home in a serious fashion.

Savvy was about to get to work on Puckish though but, when she did, Puckish was forced to try and make up ground five wide. He was responded to Savva’s urgings though and straightened with some six lengths to find … a deficit he tackled with a sustained finishing effort which carried him right into contention when it mattered most … and on to a last gasp victory.

A copybook patient, last to first ride by Savva had helped Puckish to a win which had looked a very unlikely result with 600m left to run.

Puckish now has four wins and five placed runs to his credit from twenty-two starts.

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