Brave Joey Wins Again

Comeback king Joey Massino again made up for lost time when he led all the way for a commanding victory in the Novotel Mile at Ellerslie. The brave son of O’Reilly kicked clear on the turn and had enough in reserve to down the Gr 1 Thorndon Mile winner Historian.

Out of the Housebuster mare Rationable who has been a top matron for WS, the gelding has now won twice since returning from a long break. “I got some nice sectionals down the back and on the corner I thought I had them covered,” rider Sam Spratt said. “Once he gets a roll on he finds the line well.”

Joey Massino showed excellent form as a younger horse with wins in the Listed Network Champagne Stakes, the Group Two HS Dyke Avondale Guineas and the Group Three Grant Wellington Stakes before he was struck down by serious injury. He subsequently underwent surgery to remove a bone chip and then suffered a tendon injury. He was subsequently gelded before finally returning to the track this term as a six-year-old.

“Each run this season has been good and he’s been matching it with some good horses,” co-trainer and part-owner Peter McKay said. “There’s the Group Two race (the Windsor Park Stud Japan Trophy) for him and then he’ll probably go out.”

Joey Massino was a $140,000 purchase out of WS’s 2008 Premier Sale line-up at Karaka. He is a brother to Gr 2 Makybe Stakes winner Vigor and a half-brother to stablemate and multiple stakes winner Vincent Mangano (No Excuse Needed).