King Viv makes up for last-start second

Named after one of the most dynamic batsmen to grace a cricket pitch, King Viv has turned it on at Rosehill for an overdue win.

Trained by Kim Waugh and given his moniker by her husband, former Australian Test cricketer Mark, King Viv ($9.50) overtook Not A Gypsy ($8) on Saturday to win by three-quarters of a length in the Fairfield RSL Club Handicap (2000m).

King Viv was an unlucky second at Doomben two weeks ago and his trainer decided to remove the earmuffs.

“The earmuffs block out the sound but sometimes the other effect is the horses drift around,” Waugh said.

“I think that’s what happened to him at his last start when he looked like the winner.

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“He is such a lovely horse but has taken time to mature.”

Vaucluse Bay was the $1.75 favourite but weakened at the top of the straight and was later assessed to have cardiac arrhythmia.

Waugh, who trains at Wyong, where she combines galloping horses at the track with paddock life on her property, said the Listed Wyong Gold Cup on September 1 could be a target for King Viv.

“That would be a lovely race to win,” she said.

King Viv, named after West Indies great Sir Viv Richards, had his fourth win on Saturday and his first in the metropolitan area.