The well-backed On Electric Avenue was way too good in the $60,000 Class 4 race over 1600m on Sunday, landing a training double for Shane Baertschiger.
Sent out as the third favourite at $27, the Street Cry five-year-old took a while to find his feet early doors, but the progressive galloper has now bagged three wins at his last five runs, and over three different trips – 1200m, 1400m (at his last start in Class 4 company on October 27) and now 1600m.
To the Australian handler, it’s the change in riding tactics that has finally unlocked the gelding’s true potential.
Ridden more positive at his first three starts, On Electric Avenue was dropped to a more rearward position thereafter, coming up with three wins and three placings.
Again, he was switched off centrefield by jockey John Powell before emerging as the horse to catch halfway up the straight.
Millennium’s Rule (Derreck David) was doing his best work to hang on to his lead, but was left with no answer when the pink colours of On Electric Avenue swept past him.
All Powell had to do from that point onwards was to guide him to the line, with Southern Glory (Nooresh Juglall) safely held in second spot another 1 ¼ lengths away. Steel Cutter (Craig Grylls) dashed home late to earn third place another 1 ¼ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 35.48secs for the 1600m on the Long Course.
Baertschiger was delighted On Electric Avenue has turned the corner, but pushed all the credit to his No 1 jockey for the improvement.
“All the credit should go to JP. He could not run more than 1200m last time,” said Baertschiger.
“We took off the blinkers and he has kept on improving. Today, JP also gave him a gem of a ride; from barrier No 11 they were able to get a nice midfield spot.
“This horse has a good pedigree and cost $400,000 as a yearling. He will go for a break now.”
Powell was all smiles as he weighed in for the second time in the afternoon. The Australian jockey saluted three races earlier aboard the Lee Freedman-trained Chairman.
“It’s nice to get a couple of winners. They will pay for the holidays,” said Powell.
“Early days, we rode this horse forward and he didn’t finish off. When we rode him quiet, he would switch off better.
“He has turned into a nice horse and should have a nice future next year, too.”
That third win has now taken his total stakes earnings past the $120,000 mark for the On Electric Avenue Stable.
