Welcome reason to smile after “terrible 24 hours”

SOUTH Australian horseman Matt Maguire received a welcome reason to smile yesterday.

Following what had been a “terrible 24 hours”, Maguire was success with Ona Highway Tohell at Globe Derby.

The previous morning Maguire was left devastated when a member of his stable – Robert The Bruce – sustained a serious injury.

“Robert The Bruce shattered his pastern and I was gutted,” Maguire said. “It was an upsetting incident and made for a terrible 24 hours before going to the races yesterday.

“Getting the win was a nice distraction from the devastation, but it’s still not easy having a horse injured in such a way.

“It was part of the highs and lows of life, but none of us want the lows.”

Driven by leading reinsman Ryan Hryhorec, Ona Highway Tohell began quickly to lead from the pole as In Shoobees Shoes worked on his outside.

Digging deep along the home straight the son of Betterthancheddar completed a two-metre win from a gallant In Shoobees Shoes, with Shake Baby Shake two-and-a-half metres away third.

Bred and owned by Maguire, Ona Highway Tohell rated 1:59.9 over 1800 metres to take his record to two wins and a second from five starts for earnings of $28,129.

“I’m pretty happy with the way he went,” Maguire said. “He hadn’t done much since racing in Melton nine days earlier so will be better for the run.

“He won the Southern Cross last season when trained by Emma Stewart and I brought him back home to get ready for the series again.

“The dates haven’t been set for that yet, so I’ll just keep him going along quietly for the time being.”