Trainer Gavin Bedggood and jockey Logan Bates pay tribute to Robbie Laing after Hughes wins last race at Sandown

Trainer Gavin Bedggood and jockey Logan Bates both paid tribute to their late former mentor Robbie Laing after combining to win the final race at Sandown with Hughes.

Hughes (right) finishes powerfully to win at Sandown on Saturday. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Hughes displayed an electric turn of foot in the 1400m Open Handicap at Sandown, as trainer Gavin Bedggood and jockey Logan Bates both dedicated the win to their late former mentor Robbie Laing.

Bedggood rode feature jumps winners for Laing, who died last Sunday, and worked under the Group 1 trainer, while the late Cranbourne horseman helped kickstart Bates’ career with early winners.

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Hughes powered to victory on Saturday, his fourth from the past five starts and all with Bates in the saddle, to overhaul plucky Run Harry Run in the last couple of strides.

“There were a few nervous moments,” Bates said after the Sandown double.

“I just had to trust the horse and wait for the gaps to come and when I did ask him the ones in front of me got closer and closer and closer, he gave me an unbelievable feel when he did let rip.

“I think Robbie Laing was helping me there, the heavens opened up and we got through and he won as impressive as ever.”

Bates piloted Until Valhalla to victory early on the card on a race day dominated by apprentice jockeys, who won five of the nine races. Lindsay Park claimed training honours with a treble.

HUGHES 😰

Favourite punters get the result in a thriller to finish the day at Sandown!

A double for Logan Bates 👏@[e-mail]/KXMS6RDge2

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) June 14, 2025

Bedggood remained in awe of Hughes’ performance on Saturday and progression.

“Looking back at the corner I thought oh well, he’s going to run on well and run a nice third or fourth but he grew wings late,” Bedggood said.

“He keeps raising the bar, I got him and thought we’d win a (Benchmark) 70 with him pretty quickly, he went and won a 70 at Caulfield and Cranbourne and I thought, it’s going to get tough.

“Went to an 84 and won that, it was a good race today, a lot of proven gallopers … I know he had the 51kg but he’s stepping up a lot today on what he has been beating and full credit to the horse.”

Bedggood paid tribute to the “legend” Laing.

“He pretty much taught me everything I know about training,” Bedggood said.

“I worked there for 13 years and he was very good to me. He was a legend.”

Originally published as Trainer Gavin Bedggood and jockey Logan Bates pay tribute to Robbie Laing after Hughes wins last race at Sandown