Harness racing
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COLEAMBALLY trainer Matt Painting has some big decisions to make about Rustys Reject’s future following the pacer’s win in yesterday’s $10,000 Bidgee Bulk Griffith Cup (2150m) at Dalton Park.
Starting from the second row, Rustys Reject ($5) benefited from a brilliant drive from Ellen Bartley to beat home runner- up Benoah and third-placed Sicilian Slumber.
The win surprised Painting, who was sure he was riding a streak of bad luck after his other two horses, also driven by Bartley, bombed in earlier races.
“I thought Rusty was looking all right leading into the race, but I was a bit worried when my others didn’t run a place,” Painting said.
“I didn’t think that was a good sign.
“But she (Bartley) did a beautiful job.
“She drove him perfectly. She stayed in until the 400 and he sprinted home from there.
“He’s lightning when he sprints.
“I was confident he could win when I saw the run he had, but you never know against those other two good horses (Business In Motion and Barriettas Bliss), which were also in the race.”
Once he finishes celebrating the Griffith Cup triumph, Painting will sit down and plot Rustys Reject’s next move.
He said a trip to Sydney or Melbourne was on the cards.
“This (the Griffith Cup) has been the goal all the way along,” he said.
“I don’t really know what to do with him now.
“I could send him away to Sydney or Melbourne, or even keep him around here.
“But it’ll be pretty hard for him to race around here now.
“I haven’t looked that far into it because I wanted to see how he raced this weekend.”
Regardless of where Rustys Reject starts next, Painting would love to see Bartley in the sulky.
“I couldn’t be happier with her,” Painting said.
“She was brilliant.
“I thought her confidence might have been down after the earlier two races, but she kept a cool head out there.
“She waited until exactly the right time to let him go and got him home.”