Win some, lose some for Matamata trio
‘‘The sticking point was Our King Sway's erratic path at the top of the home straight.’’
Ellerslie on Saturday was very much a case of ‘‘win some, lose some’’ for the Matamata trio of trainer Glenn Old and apprentice jockeys Darren Danis and Sam Weatherley.
Great Northern day began with a win by the talented but unsound Old-trained gelding Eletist, who followed up a midweek Avondale win when he carried 60 kilograms to a narrow victory in Rating 85 grade.
Glenn didn’t have time to celebrate as he had to saddle up his second runner, Our King Sway, for the very next race. It was more of the same as apprentice Darren Danis scored a career-first win on the grey and taking Glenn’s record for the season to an amazing five wins from just six starters.
Their pleasure was short-lived, however, when stewards announced an inquiry and Our King Sway was relegated to third. The sticking point was Our King Sway’s erratic path at the top of the home straight when he ducked in and checked Platinum Command.
That horse crossed the line third and the judicial committee ruled that but for the interference, she would have won. Not everyone agreed with that ruling, but under those circumstances Our King Sway was relegated behind Platinum Command.
The only consolation for 24-year-old Darren is that he was not charged with any offence as stewards believed he had done all he could to correct his wayward mount. With the first horse over the line relegated to third, the fortuitous recipient of that change in placings was runner-up Zorrali and his rider Sam Weatherley.
Zorrali’s promotion to first was a lucky break and the start of a memorable day for the 17-yearold. Sam really earned his second win, in which he waited for a gap on the fence riding the favourite Persuasive, who hit the line for a repeat of her win over her stablemate Secret Spirit at the same track two weeks earlier.
Nor was his day finished. In the second-last race on the card he completed his first treble with victory on Megablast, taking his tally since his career began just over three months ago to an impressive 16 wins from 116 rides.