AHA Racing’s Vin Santo has taken an exciting first step under the care of his new trainer, Renita Beaton, with an encouraging trial performance at the Sunshine Coast on Tuesday 21 July.
Renita has recently relocated her training operation to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, and this marked Vin Santo’s first official trial since joining her stable.
With clear instructions from Renita to simply let the horse find his rhythm and place no pressure on him, the jockey allowed Vin Santo to settle comfortably through the early stages. When the pace proved slower than expected, he naturally worked his way to the front at his own tempo.
After the trial, the jockey reported that she simply “sat on him” throughout, with Vin Santo travelling strongly and doing everything of his own accord. Given a light squeeze at the 150-metre mark, he responded willingly before going on to cross the line first while easing down – exactly the type of performance the stable was hoping to see.
Renita was delighted with the outing, describing Vin Santo as a happy horse who is looking in excellent condition. The trial has provided a solid foundation as the team prepares him for his next step.
Vin Santo is expected to have one more trial in around two weeks before returning to race competition, with a first-up run currently targeted for mid to late August.
It’s an encouraging start to his new campaign, and AHA Racing owners can look forward to seeing what lies ahead as Vin Santo settles into his new surroundings and continues his preparation.
