PAIRING'S IMPRESSIVE LAST TO FIRST WIN

By Graham Potter | Sunday, December 17, 2023

The Tony and Maddysen Sears trained Pairing took six starts to shed his maiden ticket, earning his place in the winners’ enclosure with an emphatic win in a Maiden Handicap over 1800m at the Sunshine Coast on December 17.

In spite of jumping as the $2.80 favourite, the lightly raced, four-year-old son of Pierro, who had finished third over the same track and distance in his previous start, had it all to do on paper going into the race as he not only had to carry the steadying burden of 60kg, but he had to concede weight (between 2kg and 9kg) to all of his rivals ... and this when jumping from the widest draw in a fair sized field (barrier thirteen out of thirteen) with its associated possible traffic problems.

It was no ‘gimme.’

There is no better jockey in Queensland than Jimmy Orman to help negate these disadvantages though, and Orman duly played his part in the victory ... not least in bringing his superb judgment of pace into play after taking Pairing back to the rear of the field in the early part, bringing him across from the wide draw in a most unhurried fashion to settle in last place.

That left Pairing all of ten lengths off the speed in the first half of the race. The Sears trained runner was in a three lengths better position ... but still seven lengths back ... in the sweep to the home turn with Orman starting to angle his mount out, looking for a clear run.

That was easier said than done though with Pairing looking likely to get caught up in running when he cornered four wide with runners all around him, but both Orman and Pairing were ruthless in their desire to get where they wanted to be.

Another switch outwards, a bump or two with another runner ... Pairing just seemed to thrive on the challenge.

When the Sears runner finally forced his way into clear running, he really showed his worth, extending with real meaning in the first half of the straight, coming from six lengths off the lead and building such momentum with each passing stride that he was already in front with 180m left to run.

As if to rub it in, Pairing continued to assert his authority all the way to the post, stretching his advantage to 3.50 lengths at the line with the third placed runner a further two lengths behind the runner-up.

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