Trainer Terry Croft eyes Inglis Banner for Thrill Hunter after boilover debut win in Kirkham Plate at Randwick

The two-year-old opener, the Kirkham Plate (1000m) was a keen betting race with Defensemen, Pearl Of Dubai, Green Kirk and Lord Elrond all well-backed while Thrill Hunter drifted to $61.

But Thrill Hunter, with Morgan showing some outstanding horsemanship, raced on speed, forged to the front in the straight and held off the late charge of a game Pearl Of Dubai ($4.40) to win by a head with favourite Defensemen ($4) having every chance before finishing a length away third.

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

“She’s very green still but she’s got a good attitude,” Morgan enthused.

“I was also battling a saddle that had shifted, and the girth was around her flanks so I was lucky she didn’t start bucking.

“But I reckon she’s got really good ability because right now she’s still a long way from where she’s going to be physically and mentally but her attitude is going to take her a long way.”

Hawkesbury trainer Terry Croft described Thrill Hunter was a “bit of a natural” and will consider keeping the filly in training for at least one more start this spring.

“We could look at the Inglis Banner at Flemington on the final day of the Cup Carnival or the Golden Gift at Rosehill,” Croft said.

“I’m thinking the Golden Gift might be a tough race so the Inglis Banner is something we will consider.

“There’s also the Newcastle race (Max Lees Classic) but that is not for another month.”

Thrill Hunter, a daughter of boom young sire Ole Kirk, thoroughly deserved her win but the effort of Pearl Of Dubai to finish a close second after being three-wide throughout did not go unnoticed.

COUNTRY CLASSIC ON THE RADAR FOR SOUTHERN DANCER

Trainer Gary Colvin put next month’s Country Classic in his crosshairs after Southern Dancer bravely battled on to score at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

An early move from Tyler Schiller proved decisive as the star jockey injected Southern Dancer into the TAB Highway Class 3 Handicap (1600m) at the 600m mark.

Southern Dancer ($12) kept finding to get the better of Poisen Point ($4.20 favourite) and the luckless Christa ($6.50).

“She kept finding,” Schiller said.

“To her credit, (Gary Colvin) told me she was more a 2000m horse and when she got that opportunity around the 600m, I was happy to get her up close to them so she didn’t have too much to do.

“She was awfully brave late and they are were never going to get past her on the line.”

Southern Dancer was a winner at Wagga last start to earn her first start in town with Colvin ready to return to Sydney in a month’s time.

The Country Classic (2000m) is at Rosehill Gardens on November 29 and Colvin believes Southern Dancer will relish the step up in trip following her tough success at the mile.

“She is a 2000m horse and she fought on like one,” he said.

“She has matured a bit and we will get her over further now.

“The Country Classic in a few weeks, I think she is up to that and you are only against Country-trained horses.”

Poisen Point’s jockey Clayton Gallagher was given a week suspension for excessive whip use on the runner-up.

Originally published as Trainer Terry Croft eyes Inglis Banner for Thrill Hunter after boilover debut win in Kirkham Plate at Randwick