This G2 3yo event over 2000m was run at a very solid clip throughout and the margins from first to last showed that with a spread of almost twenty-five lengths. Wyndspelle had in the last three Group races he contested drawn double digits for two G1’s and a G2 race and in that time run a third and two sound fifths. Today he got a decent barrier and ended up scoring a deserved win by half a length in 2:01.67, which significantly was six lengths faster than the Open Handicap held three races prior. The colt had a soft sit three back the fence and then went from sixth to third and off the inside at the 400m before surging up to lead at the 200m. He was strong enough on the line to think he could get the Derby distance of 2400m, with a similar economical run in transit, even if his breeding would say otherwise. It was his second win today from twelve starts and came about a year after the first success and at the same track. Shocking Luck ran a blinder for second after working wide early before taking the lead down the backstraight and keeping the pace real. Once headed at the 200m he fought on gamely and stamina is his calling with proof coming in the fact his last three runs since stepping up to 2000m have returned a win and two seconds with one of them now at G2. Lincoln Blue crossed from a wide draw to lead early then took a trail after 600m and fought solidly for third. He had won a Listed race easily over 2100m three starts ago so stamina was not a problem. Cha Siu Bao ran on gamely for fourth after being hampered early and getting back on the inner plus he like the winner is not bred to stay but races likes he will against his own age group. Half Of Fame the clear favourite was just a modest fifth beaten four lengths after blundering at the start and settling midfield the outer. He worryingly did not find the line like a genuine stayer in the making certainly at this stage of his career. Excalibur was a better sixth than it can ever read as he was well back then improved wide midrace and kept boxing on. Highlad was keen early then raced a bit one-paced the run home through he was second up today and rising 600m so has more improvement to come. Figurable was sitting sixth in a good spot but keen so moved wide from the halfway mark and was always going to struggle thereafter and did to some extent but he did not give it away completely. Wooden Red at $92 was tardy and settled down a clear last but was seen passing a few down the outer the closing stages. Comin Through after being hampered early plugged on from second last. The rest got beaten too far and were going backwards so distance racing is not likely to be attempted again. There were a lot of non-stayers in this and it showed so outside the top three there could still be hope for the likes of Excalibur and Highlad.
Previous Winners
Date | Horse | Jockey | WT | Trainer | BP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
RANGIPO
(AUS)
3G STRYKER (AUS) - HOLLOWAY CASTLE (NZ) ZABEEL (NZ) |
V A COLGAN | 56.5 | TONY PIKE | 11 |
|
MONGOLIAN KHAN
(AUS)
3C HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR (IRE) - CENTAFIT (NZ) CENTAINE (AUS) |
O P BOSSON | 56.5 | MURRAY BAKER & ANDREW FORSMAN | 2 |
|
PUCCINI
(NZ)
3C ENCOSTA DE LAGO (AUS) - OUR MISS OPERA (NZ) PARIS OPERA (AUS) |
M J WALKER | 56.5 | PETER MCKAY | 15 |
|
CASTLZEBERG
(NZ)
3G CASTLEDALE (IRE) - STYLISH CENT (NZ) STYLISH CENTURY (AUS) |
DANIELLE JOHNSON | 56.5 | JENNY & BOB VANCE | 1 |
|
SILENT ACHIEVER
(NZ)
3F O'REILLY (NZ) - WINNING SPREE (NZ) ZAFONIC (USA) |
JAMES MCDONALD | 54.5 | R JAMES | 6 |
|
JIMMY CHOUX
(NZ)
3C THORN PARK (AUS) - CIERZO (NZ) CENTAINE (AUS) |
J K RIDDELL | 56.0 | JOHN BARY | 6 |
|
ZARZUELA
(NZ)
3F ZABEEL (NZ) - STAR SATIRE (NZ) VOLKSRAAD (GB) |
JAMES MCDONALD | 54.5 | MARK WALKER | 13 |
|
OUR EASY RYDER
(NZ)
3G BRILLIANCE (USA) - LEDAHEAD (NZ) JUGALUG (NZ) |
M CAMERON | 56.0 | R JAMES | 2 |
|
NOM DU JEU
(NZ)
3C MONTJEU (IRE) - PRIZED GEM (NZ) PRIZED (USA) |
N G HARRIS | 56.0 | M BAKER | 9 |
|
UPSIDE OF ANGER
(AUS)
3G O'REILLY (NZ) - FLEET MARGUERITE (USA) GULCH (USA) |
G MCKEON | 56.0 | ROSS ELLIOT | 2 |
|
WAHID
(NZ)
3G ALMUTAWAKEL (GB) - RORY'S HELEN (NZ) RORY'S JESTER (AUS) |
M T COLEMAN | 56.0 | A SHARROCK | 6 |
|
SISTA
(NZ)
3F MAGIC OF SYDNEY (AUS) - BLISTER (NZ) D'ESPRIT (USA) |
T J RUSSELL | 53.0 | GRAHAM RICHARDSON & MARK DONOGHUE | 10 |
|
PHILAMOR
(NZ)
3G GENEROUS (IRE) - PLAID (NZ) MORCON (GB) |
B R JONES | 55.5 | T COLE | 2 |
|
SUPER KID
(NZ)
3C GAIUS (IRE) - POMPEII PRIDE (NZ) POMPEII COURT (USA) |
J B SYMES | 55.5 | KEVIN GRAY | 6 |
|
ATHENS
(NZ)
3G THE JOGGER (USA) - TE KOWHAI (NZ) PEVERO (IRE) |
G J GRYLLS | 55.5 | L POULSON | 6 |
|
LA BELLA DAMA
(NZ)
3F DESERT SUN (GB) - WHO'S THAT LADY (NZ) STAR WAY (GB) |
G J GRYLLS | 53.0 | G ROGERSON & K HAWTI | 2 |