Quite frankly, he’s a winner! Former champion jockey Malcolm Johnston proved again at Orange on Tuesday that he is no mean hand at training racehorses either.
Johnston completed a splendid training performance when he won the 3YO Maiden Handicap (1306m) with well-supported Quite Frankly ($5), who scored by nearly three lengths. The significance of the victory was that Quite Frankly raced over 1600m at Mudgee only nine days earlier when fourth, when racing in blinkers for the first time.
Johnston had planned to have him ridden quietly that day, but the gelding raced too keenly in the early and middle sections and weakened over the closing stages after looking a likely winner when he loomed up on straightening.
The blinkers stayed on – and with Anthony Cavallo again in the saddle – Quite Frankly settled second last in the small field.
Cavallo began to improve his position approaching the home turn and the gelding quickly put paid to his rivals in the straight, romping away to clinch the easiest of wins. Whirlwind Ascent ($4) was second, with the $2.10 favorite Mon Belami third.
It was an overdue change of fortune for Quite Frankly, who was having his ninth start.
Johnston’s Magic Albert three-year-old “won” a 1200m Maiden at $7 at the Bathurst Cup meeting on February 14, but was relegated to second when connections of another Hawkesbury runner, Final Trick, lodged a successful protest.
Johnston, who prepares a small team at Hawkesbury, rode more than 2000 winners – including 39 at Group 1 level – in an illustrious career, which was often as famous for his number of suspensions (56) as it was for his major achievements. He was associated with the champion Kingston Town, partnering him in 25 of his 30 wins, and took up training in 1997.
– Hawkesbury Race Club
