Gordon’s Leap scores shock Randwick win

Gordon’s Leap has come from behind to give Port Macquarie trainer Lisa Sheppard one of the biggest wins of her two-decade training career at Randwick.

The five-year-old gelding, who started at $17, shot through a gap to score by a short neck in the Highway Handicap (1400m) on Saturday from Cisco Bay ($9) with Athonis ($6.50) another long head third

He is the first horse Sheppard has brought to town and earned his trip with wins at Grafton and Taree.

Sheppard felt her big opinion of Gordon’s Leap had been vindicated by the win.

“He’s always showed me lots to go on with,” she said.

“I always, always thought he was a Highway (race) horse.

“And I always actually thought he was Sydney class and I thought we’ll just work through his grades and here we are today. So that proved correct.”

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With Jay Ford aboard, Gordon’s Leap pierced a gap between Cisco Bay and Lethal Dream.

Sheppard feared his speed might go to waste.

“I was hoping he would get the clear run and it came,” she said.

“Jay rode him hands and heels beautifully. He’s a big horse and he just likes that bit of space.”

Sheppard said the gelding, the last foal out of Parsa and sired by Arlington, would now be spelled and set for a tilt at the $500,000 Country Championship in April.

“I’m going to spell him at the moment,” Sheppard said.

“That’s what I’m aiming him for, the Country Championships.”