Apprentice Holly Watson didn’t let winning the inaugural Damien Oliver Award last Monday night go to her head.  She described her first outing after the Apprentice Awards ceremony as a “very bad ride” even though it was good enough to get Hoba Meteor home in Race 1 at Belmont on Wednesday.

Hoba Meteor settled last of eight in the Free Entry To Belmont Hcp (1400m) after easing from $15 to $21.  Watson hooked the Dion Luciani-trained 3yo filly to the centre of the track and they stormed home for a head-bobbing victory over Wayne The Pain (Oratorio) who had also scouted wide for Clint Johnston-Porter.

Back in the enclosure, Holly gave herself an uppercut before joining West Coast Eagles legend Andrew Embley and assistant-trainer Ian Glading for a post-race photo.  “Her first two starts had been good although we were just teaching her to race on the inside of the track and getting her through the other horses.   I thought we would be on the pace today but she jumped awkwardly and had to work around them.

“It was a very bad ride by me and I didn’t think we had won.  Luckily we got there and she will be much better getting over a mile.”

Hoba Meteor is by successful Twin Hills Stud stallion Smart Missile (Fastnet Rock) who has sired 24 Stakes winners including the WA trio Debellatio (G3 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes), Missile Launch (LR Kalgoorlie Cup) and Jericho Missile (RL Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic).

A homebred for Cape Falls Thoroughbreds owner Brett Fogarty, she is from Patinack Farm-bred mare Hoba (Northern Meteor) who has already thrown Pinjarra 3yo maiden winner Southstar (Reset).  Her 2yo filly South Hoba (Astern) has also been retained by Cape Falls.

Fogarty had purchased Hoba as a foal for $65,000 from Patinack Farm at the 2012 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale on the Gold Coast.  She didn’t race but black-type blankets her page through second-dam Skibo Castle (Carnegie) whose half-brothers included Murtajill (G3 AJC Skyline Stakes), Sunset Run (LR AJC June Stakes) and Bradbury’s Luck (RL Magic Millions 2YO Classic).

Cape Falls is located in the south-west at Wilyabrup and its LR Supremacy Stakes (1000m) winner mare Seannie (Sebring) has been given every chance at stud starting with colts by Hunter Valley sires Capitalist and Too Darn Hot (GB).  The Capitalist is a 2yo with Lindsey Smith after making $150,000 at the Perth Magic Millions in February.  Seannie was covered by Arrowfield Stud’s record-breaking young stallion The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice) last year.