When a horse is showing ability in the stable before making their debut, there are always a few nerves with the weight of expectation and at the 400 metre mark of the Gorst Rural 3YO Maiden Plate the fingernails were being nibbled at as Nightstick was scrubbed up by jockey Will Price.
However, 200 metres later Nightstick put those nerves to bed with a dominate display on debut, rounding up the field and streaking away in the first race at Ararat.
It all points to some fun times ahead for connections as the three-year-old son of Toronado looks set to compete at metropolitan level moving forward.
“That was a really nice win,” said Will Price post race.
“Obviously being his first start he was still very raw, so to see him win like that with a bit of authority was really good.
“He jumped really well and I put him where he was comfortable, but he struggled to stay on the bridle at the early stage of the race before settling, then was caught a little flat-footed coming around the corner.
“When I gave him one behind the saddle he picked up really nicely and was very strong through the line.
“He’s just going to keep on coming on with racing and get even better,” said Price.
Price’s enthusiam was matched by Henry who is excited by what’s possibly in store with Nightstick.
“That was a terrific win,” said Henry.
“I thought he would be closer in the run, but he did it the hard way as he had to be back and make ground from the turn on what is notoriously a mad leader’s track on Cup Day.
“Even though the win looked pretty good, it might even look even better given where he was able to come from.
“It’s all very new to him, he didn’t pick up the bridle early and that’s the relative inexperience after only having two previous jump-outs.
“He’s just a lovely horse and he’s only going to get better with experience off the back of that, he’s just a natural athlete and has pulled up like he hasn’t even gone around,” said Henry.
The next step forward for Nightstick won’t be known until post his recovery from his run, but wherever he goes next the competition will certainly be fearful of the ‘stick’ when the whips are cracking.