Hursley Scores Tough TV Stakes Victory

Hursley outstayed his rivals to record a tough victory in the 2015 TV Stakes at Flemington this afternoon.

The running of the TV Stakes was delayed due to a heavy storm that hit Flemington following the Gucci Stakes and it was clearly that horses that were able to get through the soft ground without any issues would have a big advantage in the listed event.

Hursley had previously failed to fire on soft going, but he absolutely relish the heavy track in the TV Stakes to finish over the top of his rivals and record a maiden win at black-type level in what was just his fifth race start.

Williams revealed after the race that connections were very bullish about the chances of Hursley in the TV Stakes and he confirmed that horses that don’t like the wet will struggle for the rest of the afternoon at Flemington.

“I was coming here with big confidence,” Williams said.

Chris Waller was very confident with the horse and Justine Hales just said that we had a fitter horse and that would help.

Geoffrey Fabre who manages all of the Qatar Bloodstock horses here in Australia said that the breed loves soft ground and he loves getting out to a trip.

“Geoffrey was right and another winner for Makfi.

“All the water is sitting on top of the track and horses that don’t like the ground will be getting beaten a long way today.

“If you have a horse that goes through the ground you know that you are going to be fighting out the finish.”

Waller stable representative Justine Hales said that Hursley was a very fit horse ahead of the TV Stakes and she was thrilled with the way that the three-year-old was able to put away his rivals in the final stages of the race.

Hales said that Hursley relished the 1800 metres of the race and she is confident that the son of Makfi will perform even better as he continues to step-up in trip.

“It was very impressive,” Hales said.

“He raced last week and ran home well and he just needed the extra distance today.

“We gave him a start as a two-year-old and he got a bit lost over a shorter distance, but they gave him time to furnish and he has come on well.

“They will just keep stepping him up in distance and he looks like he will get further and further.”

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About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.