Trainer John Sargent has a soft-spot for handy stayer Causal Connection, who once again relished the heavy track conditions at Randwick on Saturday as he notched win number eight of his career when successful in the PF Civil Handicap (2400m).
Ridden positively by apprentice Molly Bourke, the six-year-old son of Complacent maintained a strong gallop to the line after being left in front 600m from home and defeated the fast-finishing Wuddzz, also a son of Complacent, by nearly three-lengths.
“I own this horse with some friends from New Zealand and he’s been a great horse, especially in this type of ground,” a delighted Sargent said.
“He’s got to get rolling and Molly knows him well and rode him a treat today. When he’s up there bowling he can keep staying.”
Casual Connection contested last year’s Gr.2 Brisbane Cup (3200m) where he finished down the track on an unfavourable surface.
“I wouldn’t take him (to Brisbane) again, he’s getting older now, unless it was wet,” Sargent said.
“He went last year and it was rock hard and he didn’t like it. We’ll just tick along for a few weeks and see what the Winter does.”
The victory was also important for Bourke as she chases an apprentice premiership, which is headed by Braith Nock.
“He absolutely thrives in these conditions, and he was really tough today,” Bourke said.
“He just needed everything to go his way. He’s a momentum horse so as long as nothing in front of him coming into the straight he’s usually really hard to run down.”
By former Mapperley Stud stallion Complacent, Casual Connection is out of the three-win O’Reilly mare Casual Fling and is raced by the Davisons of Mapperley Stud in conjunction with the Sargent family. The stayer has now won A$481,175 in prizemoney with eight wins and 10 placings from 42 starts to date.