IT was an action-packed edition of the Parkes Services Club Parkes Gold Cup on Sunday afternoon, but it was jockey Matthew Palmer who finished on top with six-year-old gelding Hit The Target.
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After the well-backed favourite Amy's Shadow sadly broke down halfway through the race it was Hit The Target's ($7) race to lose, and he was never troubled up front.
Palmer took him straight to the lead and after heading the field by a length at the top of the straight, the gelding stretched out and increased his lead in the shadows of the post to win by 1.72 lengths over She's All In ($21).
Lolita Gold ($7) was a further one length back in third, with Toulon Brook ($8.50) filling the exotics.
It was a big ask today with 62kg...and stepping up to the mile, but he handled it perfectly.
- Matthew Palmer
Palmer told Sky Racing after the race that he was very pleased with the way his mount stood up when the heat was on.
"He (Hit The Target) was very tough today," he said after the race.
"It was a big ask today with 62kg on his back and stepping up to the mile, but he handled it perfectly.
"He's starting to get on a bit in age now, but that means he is able to stretch out and get the further distances," said Palmer.
After drawing Barrier 3 and setting the pace up front, Palmer was confident there are better days ahead for the gelding, who has previously raced in more sprint events than middle distance.
"He seemed to be very relaxed today, he was up in front and dominated - he really liked the lead and was a bit cunning in that respect," Palmer said.
In the feature sprint for the meeting, Patrick May ($3.70) held on for a tight win over Worldly Pleasure ($26) and the wily old veteran Demonstrate ($26).
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