But that desire nearly cost him the Commercial Hotel Curlewis Cup (1600m) at Riverside on Saturday. 

The Gunnedah gelding trained by Gavin Groth held off a late advance by Walcha horse, Minimos, to win the feature.

“If he gets to the front too early, he waits for them,” Groth told the Namoi Valley Independent.

“To his credit, he fought on doggedly.”

Minimos trailed near last on the turn but rallied to throw everything at About Time in the final 100m. 

Groth said the thrill-seeking temperament was not great for trainer stress, but he was nonetheless pleased by the result, particularly after two thirds and second from his four previous starts. 

“It was a well deserved win, it’s about time he won one,” he said, grinning through the phone.

The trainer also praised the efforts of jockey Anthony Cavallo.

“The ride was the key,” Groth said. “He did a really good job.”

Another local stable also finding success on Saturday was Sally Torrens.

The Gunnedah trainer secured a win with As A Hawk in the Wayne Cadman Finance Maiden Handicap (1000m).

Torrens said despite the short distance causing some early unease, Wauchope jockey Belinda Hodder rode him a treat.

“He’s not really a 1000m horse, we knew that distance was going to be a bit short,” Torrens said. “But he had the handlebars down the whole way. He’s very consistent.”

Second home, three-and-half lengths behind was the Sue Grills-trained Fashion Stage, followed by Wayne Collison’s Magic Over The Bay. 

Torrens almost bagged a winning-double when Buck Rogers finished second in Happy Birthday Paige Handicap (1300m).

“He’s an honest horse,” the trainer said.

The field was blitzed by Our Masquerade, trained by Craig Martin, which came from last on the turn to win by a length.

Last weekend’s Gunnedah meet was rescheduled due to an unsuitable wet weather track earlier that week.

Prizemoney was reduced from $15,000 per race to $8000 and starters were required to renominate. But despite the new date and prizemoney, demand remained strong, evidenced by 36 nominations received for just one of Saturday’s seven races.