Racing: Cessnock trainer Jeremy Sylvester savours Highway win against the odds

Cessnock trainer Jeremy Sylvester wasn't surprised when long-shot If You Think So dominated out front to hand him a fourth Highway Handicap win at Rosehill on Saturday.

The well-bred If You Think So was a $31 chance in the 1500-metre class 3 Highway Plate to open the program after winning just once, at Armidale on December 1, from 12 starts.

The four-year-old mare led from barrier four and kicked clear at the top of the straight under Kathy O'Hara on the way to a 4.5-length victory.

If You Think So had four starts for Gary Portelli before coming to Sylvester, who was confident of a bold run after the win at Armidale and two subsequent placings.

"We just had to get her to a bit of distance and get some good barriers," Sylvester said on Sunday. "It won at Armidale and then it was a long time between runs because of the weather. Then it went to Port Macquarie and ran well, then she just got beat at Muswellbrook.

"The light weight yesterday helped, she got to the front and dictated, so it was very good. We always thought she could do that once we got up to a bit of ground."

A daughter of So You Think out of Aerate's Pick, the mother of Ortensia, If You Think So was a $100,000 yearling buy for Cessnock motor dealership owner Geoff Boyd and his family.

Sylvester, who was at Tamworth, where he also won with Day Dreamin', on Saturday, said he would look to another Highway Handicap with If You Think So.

Sylvester and Boyd also had success with Buckmoore, which won 14 races, including one in town.

"Any win is a good win, but to win a Saturday Highway is good for the owners," the trainer said.

He said he told O'Hara "the horse would run well and hopefully you can lead or be on the speed, depending on the tempo. But I said the main thing is don't be alarmed by the way she carries on. When she gets onto the track she's right, but she gets stirred up before that."

Craig Kerry is a sports reporter for the Newcastle Herald.

Craig Kerry is a sports reporter for the Newcastle Herald.