Gun hoop Logan Bates backs Hughes to deliver again at Sandown
Hughes has won three of the past four starts, all with Bates in the saddle, to warrant a 1400m Open Handicap bid at Sandown.
'He proved the other day he can be ridden from anywhere,' Bates said.
'If they're not going that quick he can be behind the speed and if they run along he can come from the back, he's a good little horse and I'm glad I got the opportunity to ride him.'
Hughes is a $4.80 favourite on Saturday from The Open ($5.50) and Lim's Kosciuszko ($6.50).
Bates first combined with Gavin Bedggood -trained Hughes to win a Benchmark 70 at Cranbourne in March. They won again at Caulfield and then placed third at the same track last month.
Hughes rebounded last month with a strong 1400m Benchmark 84 win at Sandown.
'We tried to be brave at Caulfield, I probably rode him a length too close and he was catching the breeze that day and he was still gallant against a couple of nice ones,' Bates said.
'He got a beautiful run (last start) and surprised me (turn of foot) ridden that way, I'm still learning things about him.
'He's still got more to give, the other day I almost got to the front too soon, he did the same thing to me at Caulfield, he gets to the front and he thinks job done.
'The way he quickened up the other day I dare say I could've won by a bit more, it felt like I had a bit left in there.'
Hughes defeated Mollynickers by 1¼ lengths last start.
'He's progressed the right way, first time I sat on him he was quite a nervy horse and got hot behind the gates and he's progressed to what he was the other day, all but bombproof,' Bates said.
'He knows his job, he looks good and I'm sure Bedggy will allow him to progress the right way.'
Second-year apprentice Bates has piloted 65 Victorian winners this season, including seven in town.
'I couldn't have scripted this season, that I was going to ride 65 winners at this point,' Bates said.
'The first three months of the season I didn't ride a winner at all and got to back end of November-December and then January I went bang, I think I rode 20 winners in a month.
'From then it's kept rolling … if you can hold (form) for as long as possible it helps you gain the rides, Saturday speaks for itself, good numbers for a range of trainers, quality horses for quality trainers.'
A forced 10-day holiday after Sandown is timely as Bates has ridden the past 10 months straight.
'I got suspended last Saturday (careless riding), which isn't ideal but the time off is probably going to be a blessing in disguise,' Bates said.
'I've got a week and a half off to let the mind recoup … it's starting to take a toll, the body is getting a bit tired so I think it will appreciate a week off from racing, more so the mind.'
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Hannah makes most of move
Final year apprentice jockey Hannah Edgley is determined to build on recent momentum.
A coveted first Flemington winner last weekend from one ride has led to seven bookings on Saturday at Sandown, including Hot Whiskers and Extreme Virtue.
'It was a big thrill, something I really wanted to do before I finish my apprenticeship, to get a winner at Flemington,' Edgley said.
'Awesome to tick that off and hopefully now it leads to a couple more (city winners).'
Edgley moved from home Benalla to Pakenham this year to build connections with trainers and make the most of her metropolitan weight claim, 3kg currently.
Edgley wiped her country claim quickly, with bulk winners in her first two seasons, and then struggled for opportunity last year competing with senior jockeys for rides.
A short break from racing last year recharged Edgley to get back in the saddle.
'The industry is very challenging sometimes, opportunities were drying up, I felt as though I wasn't in the best head space to be riding in races,' Edgley said.
'If you don't feel like you're performing as well as what you can it's a downward spiral, I felt I couldn't really get out of that.
'After a few months off I was able to enjoy it again … realised if I wanted to make the most of (metro claim) I needed to make a move … to ride better horses in better races.
'If I could make the most of these opportunities then hopefully that leads to a nice winter.'
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