Newcastle trainer Steve Hodge is eyeing more success with his Hong Kong connection after breaking the three-and-a-half-year drought of Bourbon Flyer at home on Thursday. Login or signup to continue reading Bourbon Flyer ($21), a six-year-old Flying Artie gelding, came from last to win race two, a 900m class 1 handicap, by a length on a heavy surface with Scone-based three-kilogram claiming apprentice Cobi Vitler on board. It was Bourbon Flyer's third start for Hodge, who added him to his Newcastle stable during a sale of another horse to Hong Kong.
A $50,000 yearling, Bourbon Flyer won on debut for John Thompson in February 2021 on the Kensington track but had fallen short in 12 runs since. Eight of those were in Hong Kong. "A couple of his runs over there weren't too bad, without probably being up to them, so they decided to send him back," Hodge said.
"I sold a young one over there I had won a trial with at Newcastle. It went good and I was offered the right money for it, so we sold it. The agent who bought him had brought this horse back, so he asked if I wanted to have a go with him.
"His first-up run he was fifth and went good because he hadn't raced for 12 months. Then the over day over the 1200 he was very disappointing. "Today we had the claim because of the 60 kilos, and the kid rides all right.
He's a nice kid and that's the first time I've had anything to do with him. "He's ridden a few winners in the country but not many at the provincials yet, so hopefully he can.