God’s In Him greets New Year at Randwick

God’s In Him closed Randwick’s New Year’s Day card with a win that pleased co-trainer Michael Hawkes.

The God’s Own gelding had been missing in action as a younger horse racing just twice before winning a Seymour maiden first-up in October.  Transferred to the stable’s Sydney operation, he scored a convincing victory in the TAB Handicap (1600m) on Thursday.

“He’s a nice horse,’’ Hawkes said.  “If he hadn’t showed any ability, we wouldn’t have persevered – he would have been moved on by now.  “He won well at Seymour and had improved with that run.’’

God’s In Him (5g God’s Own – Sinistra by Dracula) is from an English bred mare who emigrated to Australia after making 11,000gns at the 2004 Tattersalls December Sale.  Sinistra is a half-sister to LR Ballymacoll Stakes winner Sardonic but was distanced at her only start for Henry Cecil earlier that year at Newbury.

Michael’s wife Claire is part of the syndicate that bought God’s In Him for $40,000 at the 2011 Gold Coast Magic Millions.  He went amiss more than once and was resuming after 10 months on the sidelines when winning his maiden as a spring five year-old.

“He’s had problems but he’s got ability,” jockey Dwayne Dunn said at Seymour.  “He’s still learning his craft and wasn’t quite sure how to put them away but did it nicely at the finish.”

Pillar Of Creation got God’s Own off to a winning start at Caulfield in 2014 and God’s In Him can also graduate to open company notwithstanding any soundness issues this year.

The Randwick win was the 53rd this season for Greta West Stud sire God’s Own.