Late surge puts Hidden Pearl in the picture

TRAINER Barry Lockwood revealed Bridget Grylls would retain the ride on Hidden Pearl in her Sydney campaign — as long as the jockey could find her lost compass.

Bridget Grylls guides Hidden Pearl to another impressive victory. Picture: Trackside Photography

TRAINER Barry Lockwood revealed apprentice Bridget Grylls would retain the ride on sprinter Hidden Pearl in her Sydney campaign — as long as the jockey could find her lost compass.

Lockwood was far from delighted Grylls took Hidden Pearl to the inside of leader Tibrogargan Miss as she attempted to find a run in the straight at Eagle Farm.

The inside has not been the place to be on the new Eagle Farm surface, with most winners coming down the middle of the track or down the outside.

Plenty of hearts were in mouths as $1.50 pop Hidden Pearl initially struggled for momentum on the inside, before picking up and surging to claim an impressive 1000m win.

Hidden Pearl made it seven wins from 14 starts and Grylls will get the mount when the mare ventures to Sydney for the Group Two Shorts at Randwick on September 17.

“Bridget will stay with her if she gets her compass back, I think she lost it out on the track somewhere today,” Lockwood quipped. “To be fair, it was a very impressive win by Hidden Pearl. Not too many horses have led her in the past, so she showed there was another string to her bow when she came from behind.

“She is very classy and I am very happy with the way she hit the line today.”

Hidden Pearl’s win continued her sparkling career, which was in danger of being cut short when she was badly injured in a race at Flemington last November.

Former Kiwi Grylls was relieved that Hidden Pearl continued on her winning ways.

“My original (riding) plan went out the window when that other horse just went too hard for us in front,” Grylls said. “I thought we would be leading but I opted to take a sit on her.

“Then in the straight I wanted to be out in the middle of the track but that didn’t go to plan either. I was a little bit worried for a couple of strides but everything worked out OK.”

McGillivray claims success

APPRENTICE Matt McGillivray made a happy return to Brisbane when Dream Choice produced a tough finish to win at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

McGillivray, who was formerly with Barry Baldwin in Brisbane, is now based with John Sargent in Sydney and has ridden several winners in recent weeks.

However with apprentices not getting many rides in big southern meetings during the Spring Carnival, McGillivray is keen to ride in Brisbane on Saturdays.

“All the black-type races are in Sydney at the moment so it is tougher for me to get rides there,” McGillivray said. “I just want to switch my time between Sydney and Brisbane and hopefully I can ride some more winners for my old connections in Brisbane.

“I have four rides on Monday at Cessnock, during the week I will ride in NSW. I’m enjoying mixing with good jockeys at trackwork in Sydney, so … I’m getting the best of both worlds.”

Dream Choice’s trainer Rob Heathcote said McGillivray’s 2kg claim was the key to the gelding getting over the top of Into The Red in the final stages.

Originally published as Late surge puts Hidden Pearl in the picture