Father and son team Nick and Chris Heywood capped off an exciting week for the family by heading down the Hume Highway to Rosehill, with stable star High Opinion.
Nick took out the Snake Gully Cup on Friday at Gundagai and the 19 year old apprentice ‘s next mission was to guide 4 year old gelding High Opinion, by Lord Jim home, in Race 3 at Rosehill, over 1400m.
High Opinion stormed down the outside for a fast finishing fourth in the $40,000 Highway Handicap. Chris said “The run was huge, he was last at the turn and made up eight lengths on the leader,” pointing out the slow tempo wasn’t ideal.
The current Southern District Racing Association Trainer of The Year wasn’t disappointed with Nick, or the 4 year old thoroughbred’s efforts. Leading in to the race High Opinion had 13 starts for 3 wins, 5 2nds and 3 3rds with his last win in Albury over 1600m. After first contemplating resting the horse, Heywood has decided they will pursue another race at Rosehill. Chris said “We will be aiming for him to run in the Championships next year but i’d like to give him another crack in a couple of weeks.”
Ron Dufficy of the Daily Telegraph wrote in his column “High Opinion wasn’t suited getting back and had too much to do with the sprint home. He is worth another chance. I’d like to see High Opinion come back for another crack at a Tab Country Highway race. He found himself back in a slowly run race on Saturday and never got a cart in at all. Give him a drier track from a better draw with more speed upfront I think you will see a better horse.”
