A CAREER-BEST Victorian season for Kyneton trainer George Osborne has ended on a high.
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Osborne brought up his 44th winner for the season following another front-running victory by stable favourite Reine Happy in the final event at Geelong on Friday.
Fittingly, in a season during which he has enjoyed unbridled success, Osborne's final winner came with the horse, who contributed the most wins.
A rising nine-year-old, Reine Happy won seven races during the 2019-20 season, the last two coming back-to-back at Bendigo and Geelong in July.
He was again partnered by four-kilogram claiming apprentice on the rise Tayla Childs, who has the near-impeccable record on Reine Happy, of two wins and a second from three rides.
Osborne, who was not at the races, but was watching from home at Kyneton, was again full of praise for both Childs and his veteran galloper.
"She did a terrific job ... she won the race in the first furlong and a half,' he told broadcaster Racing.com.
"We spoke about the fact there was limited speed in the race and we didn't want to spend our pennies early.
"We knew he'd pick up, so we wanted to just cruise him to the leading spot. Basically I said to her let him bolt from the 800m."
Osborne could not hide his obvious admiration for Reine Happy, a staple at his Kyneton stables since 2014, who extended his career record to 13 wins and 15 placings from 58 starts, for earnings of $231,790.
"He's an amazing horse, he's been with me a long time,' he said.
"I bought him as a yearling and he's taken a bit of time to work out, but he just loves being away from other horses.
"He wins his races by either being on the outside on based tracks or in front.
"The kilos allowance we take off (using apprentices) makes all the difference, it allows him to race in a grade that suits him.
"He's creeping up high now (in the ratings), but we've been able to place him as best as we can."
It was a third career win for Childs, whose maiden win came aboard Reine Happy at Bendigo on July 3.
An undoubted highlight for Tayla was beating home twin brother Jordan Childs, who had to settle for second aboard Billy Mav, in a tight finish.
He's an amazing horse, he's been with me a long time.
- George Osborne
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