Australian captain Steve Smith's confidence might be sky high, but so is that of his horse.
Hogmanay, owned by Smith's NSW and sometimes Australian teammate Moises Henriques among others, battled to a second straight win at Rosehill yesterday.
![Two in a row: James Innes Jnr rides Hogmanay to victory.](/web/20161217063223im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/8/d/q/l/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gt89pb.png/1481354776322.jpg)
"The horse even made the news two weeks ago on Channel 7," trainer Chris Waller joked of Hogmanay's famous ownership group. And there could very well be bigger targets in store for the four-year-old after apprentice James Innes jnr continued his stunning run from a small sample for Sydney's premier trainer.
"They always look good when they're winning," Waller said of the two-kilogram claimer.
"It was a decisive decision from James and we learned something last start through [Hogmanay] going forward – he's turned into a racehorse. [Confidence] is underestimated in any sport and the least thing you would expect in an animal, but it's one of the most important things."
Added Innes: "He's flying and we've found a racing pattern with him. I think I've only had about five or six rides [for Waller] and had three wins."
Proud of fighting spirit
Joe Pride almost veered off the road when he heard My Psychiatrist's price on Saturday morning.
"That was my Christmas present, I thought I would get 20-1 about that horse today," Pride joked after the mare climbed off the canvas to win at Rosehill.
"I wasn't being sneaky, but I just couldn't see how anyone could find her. I nearly crashed the car when I was driving home this morning [and heard her price]."
![Resilience: My Psychiatrist comes back to win the ATC Members Christmas Handicap.](http://web.archive.org./web/20161217063223im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/8/c/j/5/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1481346297307.png)
Resilience: My Psychiatrist comes back to win the ATC Members Christmas Handicap. Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au
The four-year-old appeared the first horse beaten on the turn, but somehow found some reserves under apprentice Deanne Panya to beat Multifacets.
"You don't know with these stamina horses until you test their stamina out," Pride said.
"There were a couple of indications there. She's very dour and if she doesn't run 2400 [metres] I've never had a horse that will run 2400. I like to think I train all my horses to have that fight."
Sugar Bay strong
On looks alone Joe Pride reckons he hasn't trained any better. "I've always thought – and dead set on type – he's as nice a horse as any I've trained," Pride gushed after Sugar Bay Leonard started a winning double with a last stride win at Rosehill. "He's the most powerful and strongest horse." But even that might not have been enough at one stage as Sugar Bay Leonard appeared to spot Top Striker too big a start before rattling off his third win in four starts. "I didn't think he was going to get him, but he was really strong through the line," Pride said.
"He's let us down a few times on softer tracks, but I feel like he's back on track now. Given a bit more time I can only see him improving."
![Powerful: Josh Parr leads down the straight on board Sugar Bay Leonard.](http://web.archive.org./web/20161217063223im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/8/c/3/k/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1481344412235.png)
Powerful: Josh Parr leads down the straight on board Sugar Bay Leonard. Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au
Mare cleans up metro
Once told he was picking up a horse not good enough for the city, Danny Williams returned with the same mare and cleaned up a metropolitan win in the Highway Handicap.
Admittedly racing against country-trained horses, I Told Georgie swept from the tail of the field to gun down Artistic Beauty. And Williams was quick to pay tribute to former trainer Ron Quinton. "At that stage she wasn't developed enough to be racing in Sydney and through Ron and a wise decision she was able to come to us," the Goulburn trainer said.
"I was a bit worried because she's not the best on firm surfaces and definitely with cut out of the ground she's much better."
Rivals to speak at forum
Champion trainers Chris Waller and Gai Waterhouse will headline the Australian Turf Club's first forum in a series of events designed to promote racehorse ownership among its members and the wider public.
Waller and Waterhouse will be among a number of industry identities to speak at Randwick before the Villers Stakes meeting, the feature of Sydney's summer racing.
"We will hear from people who have owned and trained winners of the Golden Slipper, Melbourne Cups and Cox Plates to name a few, as well as those who have owned, sold or bought horses to win many of our biggest races," Australian Turf Club's executive general manager of racing James Heddo said.
The function will be held in the Longines Owners Pavilion from 11.30am on Saturday with tickets costing $40, covering a stand-up cocktail lunch.
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