The Jason Coyle-trained Scream Machine scored a well deserved win at Rosehill on Saturday when he got a late split to claim the Blackwoods Uvex Safety Handicap.
Scream Machine was getting a bit of a bridesmaid tag after coming into Saturday's event with four straight placings to his credit. Most of those were caused by his overracing but that didn't hold him back this time.
Ridden by Kathy O'Hara, Scream Machine jumped awkwardly then settled at the back of the field about six to eight lengths off race leader Travolta. Early in the runner Scream Machine looked to pull but as the pace became genuine he relaxed and that was the winning move.
O'Hara let her mount edge closer around the bend then went looking for a gap to get clear running. That was a tougher proposition than she would have hoped with the pair running into a couple of dead ends between the 350m and 200m but fortunately a gap appeared just in time.
With 175m to a split came and Scream Machine had enough left in the tank to sprint through and score. At the line the margin was a short neck to Brightest with a further half head to Lucripetous in third.
“It was a good ride,” Coyle said. “It has been well documented that he has had a few problems in running at his past few starts but it all worked out today.
“I left it up to Kathy if we were going to box seat, the main thing I stressed was if he can get cover he can relax and it just happened it was last. She rode him well from the 600m and he got the split late.
“Next preparation I think he will be a genuine 2000m horse. This preparation I think he is a miler who can get 2000m and we got one today.”
“He jumped up in the air at the start but it didn't really bother me because I could get cover straight away,” O'Hara said.
“We said before the race that he just need to settle and he would win and he settled really well back where he was, the speed was good.
“He improved into the corner and I had done no work but he rushed onto the back of them and I needed a run and lucky enough it came but I had a couple of moments worry there.
“To his credit he really accelerated quickly, which was pleasing to see but like I said he had done no work in the run and he settled well and that was the key to it today.”
