Thoughts'n'prayers scores timely win at Moe

The four-year-old gelding, trained at Kyneton by Mick Sell, was the epitome of resilience in winning his second race, from only six starts, with a near all the way victory in the 1217m benchmark 0-58 handicap.

Ridden by Craig Robertson, Thoughts'n'prayers had shown a liking for the wet ground when he finished third in his first-up start on a heavy 10 at Echuca earlier in the month.

He was again able to excel in heavy 8 going and showed plenty of grit in the final stages to hold out a fast-closing Fortyfivedegrees, with Joe Bowditch aboard, to eke out a narrow win.

Referencing the lockdown in Victoria, stable spokesperson Mel Sell said she could not think of a more aptly named winner for the current times.

"We could all do with a few thoughts and prayers at the moment with what is going on and the situation that is eating away at everyone's mental health," she said.

Sell said the horse's name and win had struck a more personal chord following a few recent health issues and the arrival during the week of some good news on that front.

"I've gotten some answers as to why I have had a few health issues the past few years, but it was good news," she said.

"For this week in particular, he's been a very aptly named horse."

Thoughts'n'prayers was originally trained by the Sells' long-time friend and colleague Tony Romeo, who oversees a small team of horses at Diggers Rest.

Romeo was the trainer when the gelding scored his maiden win at St Arnaud in October last year, but following a pair of unplaced runs later in the year, he was transferred to Kyneton.

"When he came to us, he was still a bit raw and probably just needed a little more fitness and experience under his belt," Mel Sell said.

"He's a big gangly bugger, so we've taken our time with him.

"We said to Tony, straight out, it's probably going to take him a month or so to have him ready, especially with no trials around this area at the moment, which has made things hard.

"Lucky with Tony, he's the type of bloke who says 'just do what you've got to do'. We've done a lot of horses for him over the years and he has complete faith in Mick.

"He obviously ran well first-up (at Echuca) and handled the conditions and when we went through the options (last) Monday, probably the most ideal race was at Moe, where it was going to be wet and right in his distance range.

"As it turned out, it was the right choice."

The son of Keep The Faith and Tilly May boosted his early career record to two wins and a third from six starts and gave his new stable its seventh win of the 2020-21 season.

A second-former Romeo-trained four-year-old, the mare Smokin' Hard, finished third in the race following Thoughts'n'prayers' win in his first run for the Sell team.

The trip to the races formed part of a massive workday for Mick Sell, who spent his Saturday night unloading stallions from international flights at Tullamarine Airport, in preparation for quarantine.

A more than six-hour round trip from Kyneton to Moe - on top of his normal 3.30am start to the working day - was followed by a quick feed, shower and change of clothes before a drive to the airport in time for a 9.30pm start and 1.30am Sunday finish.

Sell is required to take a COVID test before every shift at the airport.

The stable will have at least one runner in action on Tuesday at Ballarat Synthetic with Lovin' Laughs engaged in the 1100m benchmark 64, while Elevenbee is an emergency in the 2100m benchmark 64.

Lovin' Laughs, a four-year-old, to be ridden by Madison Lloyd, was successful two starts back at Ballarat Synthetic, before finishing fifth over 1200m at Pakenham Synthetic at his last run in late June.

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