Bargain buy Hydrant reaches milestone at Newcastle

6.00 Newcastlesunbets.co.uk Handicap | 1m, 4yo+ | ATR

Not many twice-raced maidens sold for just 1,000gns go on to prove themselves invaluable stable stalwarts but Hydrant is not like most horses.

Nearly seven and a half years on from that that insultingly cheap purchase, he had Richard Guest singing his praises on the eve of the 100th race of his career.

Hydrant, who fetched 125,000gns as a yearling, has won ten times, earning nearly £50,000 in prize-money, and pays his way off the course too.

"I have him, Outlaw Torn and Captain Scooby and they're worth their weight in gold," his trainer said. "They lead the yearlings about, they lead gallops, they give apprentices rides and they keep winning races every year."

Guest has had Hydrant since taking over at Ingmanthorpe Stables in Wetherby in 2013 and said: "I inherited him when I came here and he was narrowly beaten the first time then he won three in a row. He's been a diamond and he tries his heart out. He's game, honest and sound.

"He and Outlaw Torn don't like being in the stable very much so they have special New Zealand rugs on and the two of them are out for most of the day and that seems to be the key to both of them."

Stablemate Outlaw Torn, a veteran of 138 outings, joins him in tonight's 1m handicap at Newcastle, where being 4lb wrong at the weights may not stop Hydrant running a good race.

"He seems really well and coming back in trip might suit him," Guest said. "Anything is possible off a nice light weight, he'll bowl away in front and he might be difficult to peg back."