Bart Cummings of the south, House loves new recruit Platinum Road: ‘He’s the best I’ve got’

Platinum Road’s come-from-last win at Riccarton on Thursday has trainer Michael House thinking he might be in for a good summer with the horse.

The seventh and easily most impressive individual winner House has trained for Lincoln Farms in the last 15 months responded to a masterly Chris Johnson ride, coming from the rear 300 metres out and powering up the fence to score in a five-way blanket finish.

“It was one of the great CWJ moments,” House said. “They need to show that race at the apprentice school.

“When he pulled him sideways to go to the fence you knew he was going somewhere.”

House put the fact that the horse was nice and fresh, having his first start in the south and first for seven weeks, for his feat in scoring over 1200 metres, his first win at the sprint trip and first attempt at it for more than two and a half years.

Thriving on the strong pace, Platinum Road recorded the fastest sectionals over the closing 800 (44.25), 600 (33.43), 400 (22.2) and 200 (11.32) to stop the clock at 1:09.46.

“He’d had only a couple of serious gallops since he arrived but he’s a lovely horse, the best (galloper) I’ve got.

“He’s a beautiful horse on type. Anyone would love him as a riding horse with his good manners.”

Another masterful ride by Chris Johnson lands Platinum Road a winner.House said while Platinum Road had scored only twice from 30 starts you had only to look at his form, and the races he had tackled, to know he had a bit of class.

Quite why the horse had under-performed in the north for John and Lynne Street and Neville McAlister, when he was touted early on as a derby type, was hard to define.

“Ok, the level of competition down here is not as difficult. But maybe he just wasn’t mature enough.

“He could be one of those that’s physically gifted but not mentally strong. You might look like Arnold Schwarzenegger but a three foot fella comes along and beats you up. Sometimes horses catch on as they get stronger.

“When you have high expectations of a horse and they don’t meet them as quickly as you want you can be disappointed. He’s five now but maybe he won’t come good ’til he’s six or seven.”

House quoted the late, great cups king Bart Cummings whose favourite line was that “patience is the cheapest thing in racing but most people don’t use it.”

“I’m half hoping he’ll be quite a nice horse and we’ll be set for a good summer.”

House plans to get Platinum Road out to a middle distance in short order.

“We’ll see if we can find a $30k race in a couple of weeks while he’s still low rated. It won’t be a shock to him to go an extra round.”

House took great delight from the fact so many people had messaged him thanking him for tipping out a $35 winner.

“Even the roofer who was here fixing some skylights backed him. He came to pick up some money and put $10 of it on the horse.”

In typical irrepressible style, House is already looking for his next horse.

Any profits he made yesterday from winning the race named the Valachi Downs Dispersal Sale On Gavelhouse might go on that very auction which closes tonight.

“I’m looking at a few. But I might put it on tick and try to find someone to pay for it. We’re dream sellers, that’s what we are.”