Oliver Kite admitted he got a feeling like no other when Hidden Talent powered to a brilliant fresh-up victory at Winton yesterday.
The 4yr-old started her spring campaign off on a perfect note when exploding away from her rivals.
Kite took his opportunity to land a penalty-free junior driver’s win with Hidden Talent with both hands and he got to feel the speed and power of the highly talented mare in the process.
"I hadn’t felt anything like it on race day before, to be honest," Kite said.
"The pure power when I asked her to go around them, she did it so easily."
Hidden Talent’s mission was straightforward by the home turn, but the race was eventful in the middle stages with Kite handling his mare patiently.
"There was a lot of pace on, so it worked out really well and I followed the right horse.
"They came back to us at about the 500m-600m and she was brilliant."
Handling a horse of Hidden Talent’s ability brings pressure, with the mare’s $1.60 favouritism only putting more of a spotlight on Kite’s drive.
He took that pressure in his stride and handled the mare faultlessly.
"I wouldn’t say I was nervous, more excited.
"I had driven her a couple of times at the workouts and she is pretty faultless.
"I was more excited and relieved to get the job done."
Williamsons won the first five races on the seven-race Winton card.
Phil and Nathan Williamson combined to take out race 1 with Black Pat, while Matthew Williamson trained and drove The Matriarch to win race 2.
Brad Williamson trained the next two winners, with Kerryn Tomlinson driving both horses.
Tomlinson took no risks, keeping Krackaling out of trouble to win race 3 before Classic Mission took out race 4.
Krackaling is unbeaten this time in after speeding to her third consecutive victory.
Though she did not have to run any hot times, the 3yr-old sped home in a slick 27.7sec for her final 400m.
"She won with the earplugs in, under a hold," Tomlinson said.
"She is a very nice, classy horse."
Classic Mission ran to an overdue maiden win in his 13th start yesterday.
The three-year-old had run several placings and taken on classy horses before finally breaking through in race 4.
"He has developed really well. He was up and going as a 2yr-old and he ran fifth in the Kindergarten Stakes," Tomlinson said.
"He was always nice enough, but he has just taken a little bit of time."
Yesterday’s double took Tomlinson to 98 career victories.
