Unbeaten hurdler Billy Boy (So You Think) honoured the memory of his late owner Denis Leamy with a tenacious victory in the Manawatu ITM Manawatu Hurdles (2500m) at Trentham on Saturday.
Billy Boy was bought for just $5500 on Gavelhouse.com in 2021 by Leamy, who sadly died at Palmerston North Hospital last Sunday at the age of 82 – just six days before his horse’s career-best win.
From 30 starts, Billy Boy has now recorded five wins and seven placings and has earned $89,865. He has a perfect two-from-two record over hurdles, having scored a four-length maiden win at Woodville last September in his only previous attempt.
The Jo Rathbone-trained Billy Boy was backed into $2.90 favouritism on Saturday on the strength of eye-catching recent efforts on the flat to finish fourth at Wanganui and second at Ellerslie. Rathbone admitted to some concerns about the Heavy10 conditions at Trentham, but the seven-year-old son of So You Think mastered the conditions and the step up in class.
“I was worried about the track and how heavy it was, but he really dug his toes in and it was a tough win,” Rathbone said. “Denis was obviously watching.”
Billy Boy was ridden by Joshua Parker, whose only previous ride on the gelding was his maiden hurdle win at Woodville last spring. The pair settled in second behind a strong pace set by Rocabury (NZ) (El Roca), with the well-backed Verry Flash (NZ) (Zed) sitting just behind them in third.
That trio drew more than a dozen lengths clear of the rest of the field turning out of the back straight and coming down the side of the track, and the efforts soon took their toll on Rocabury. He was swallowed up and left behind by Billy Boy and Verry Flash, who surged to the front and had the last 700m all to themselves.
Verry Flash clearly had the upper hand early in the home straight, but Billy Boy got up off the canvas and summoned another big effort. He clawed his way back into the lead at the second-last fence, edging away from Verry Flash to win by a length. There was a 16-length margin back to Run Jakko Run (NZ) (Jakkalberry) in third.
“He’s so tough and is just a lovely horse,” Parker said. “Thanks to Jo and the connections for giving me the opportunity to ride him again.
“You keep it straightforward and he just does the job for you. He’s a clever horse and knows what he’s doing. He dug deep today.
“His owner passed away last Sunday. I’m gutted he couldn’t be here today to watch his horse, but I’m thinking of him.”