2024 Regional Championship: Geraldton horse Sure No Something takes out $100,000 feature race at Ascot

Four local horses booked a spot at the TABTOUCH Regional Championship at Ascot on Saturday after a successful outing at the 2024 Geraldton Toyota Batavia Sprint — and one stormed home to victory.

Race four at Ascot on Saturday featured horses from local trainers Julia Martin, Ron Cowl and Gordon Spowart representing Geraldton’s finest in the 1200m in Perth.

Martin had her two geldings, Safe Hustle and Spirit Man, in the race hoping to replicate their impressive performances on the big stage.

Safe Hustle who took out first place in the qualifying race at Geraldton earlier in the season was paired again with jockey Kristy Bennett.

Spirit Man was paired with rider Jade McNaught after a surprise fourth placing in the qualifying race.

Cowl had six-year-old gelding Sure No Something in the mix, who placed second in the qualifying sprint in Geraldton last month. Clint Johnston-Porter rode the gelding then and was again up for the challenge.

Spowart’s contender was four-year-old mare Fine Line. After running third in the qualifier at Geraldton with Tash Faithfull on board, it was a different pairing this time with jockey Luke Campbell on board at Ascot.

Campbell and Fine Line drew an unfavourable barrier 14 heading into the big race, Martin’s two geldings drew barriers two and three seeing the stablemates going head-to-head, while Sure No Something drew a favourable barrier five.

Out of the barriers Safe Hustle and Spirit Man found positions mid-pack, followed closely behind by Sure No Something while Fine Line was four lengths back.

Kalgoorlie gelding Science Degree led the pack with fellow Kalgoorlie locals Eevalina and Secret Attire rounding out the top three.

Spirit Man, Safe Hustle and Sure No Something all held mid-pack heading into the home straight, with Fine Line following two lengths behind.

Albany’s Invincible Power broke free from the pack edging closer in front of the Kalgoorlie trio. Followed closely behind was Sure No Something as Johnston-Porter gave the gelding the green light to have a crack.

Safe Hustle fell back in the pack with Fine Line, while stablemate Spirit Man desperately held on in the middle of the pack.

At the 100m mark Sure No Something stormed home to win by half a length.

The owners bought the six-year-old gelding online for $3750 and the horse has paid them back in spades — winning the $100,000 feature race.

After the big race, Cowl said Sure No Something was close to being retired after a string of issues but coming off an eight month break, the gelding came back a different horse.

“We are over the moon with him,” he said.

Cowl said being paired with Group 1-winning jockey Johnston-Porter made all the difference, rating it a 10-out-of-10 ride.

“He (Clint Johnston-Porter) was very keen on him last start when he got off him,” he said.

“Just gave him (Sure No Something) a fantastic ride and found himself in the clear.”

Johnston-Porter said he knew coming into the race that Sure No Something was going to be “hard to beat”.

“He ran well at the Batavia Sprint but due to the margin we didn’t push him, all we had to do was qualify in that race, not win,” he said.

“I knew after riding him the other day (Batavia Sprint) that as soon as I got the stick up him that he was going to explode.”