THE PROSPEROUS partnership between trainer George Osborne and jockey Linda Meech continues to reap dividends, with the pairing combining for another winner at Bendigo racecourse on Wednesday.
Meech landed the second-leg of a winning double with ‘tricky’ sprinter Eastern Pegasus’ 1100m win in a benchmark 64 event.
It was the second victory in as many days for the Kyneton trainer and Group 1-winning jockey, who had success with Mary’s Pride at Seymour on Tuesday.
A $9 chance, Eastern Pegasus was returning from a four-week freshen-up following a pair of unplaced runs at Moonee Valley.
Meech, who won the day’s opening race aboard the Peter Smith-trained Secret Way, conceded Eastern Pegasus was a ‘tricky’ horse to ride.
“If you put him on the outside of horses he pulls up. I don’t know why, he’s different to every other horse, he likes to look for runs that aren’t there,” she said.
“But if you try and ride a pretty race and expose him he pulls up on you.
“George wanted me to get him smothered up and not get to the front too soon. He just loses concentration with nothing in front of him.”
Eastern Pegasus has now won four times in 21 starts for career earnings of nearly $60,000.
His triumph presented Osborne with his 25th win this season and sixth in 23 starts dating back to his double with Uptown Lola and Gasworx on his home track on February 12.
All but one of those wins has been notched with Meech in the saddle.
She was not the only rider to end the day with a double, with John Allen finding dual success with the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Fanciful Toff and the Phillip Stokes-trained Jumbo Ozaki.
Meanwhile, a return to racing is nearing for the Shaun Dwyer-trained Miss Leonidas after the mare was put through his paces in an exhibition gallop by Dwayne Dunn on Wednesday.
Dwyer indicated the four-year-old winner of three of nine career starts would have another gallop at Bendigo races in a fortnight's time, before resuming in a 1000m benchmark 78 sprint on Mornington Cup Day on March 23.
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