Scapolo scampers away with Sweynesse
The Kevin Myers-trained Scapolo scored a decisive victory when running away with a four and a half length victory in the Group III Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) at Rotorua on Saturday.
The 7-year-old, who finished second to Ryan Mark in the race a year ago, beat the Taranaki Breeders Stakes winner Underthemoonlight who finished second with another half a length back to North And South in third.
‘‘It was as easy as it looked,’’ jockey Sam Spratt said.
‘‘It’s pretty cool to ride a horse like him.
‘‘It was a bit of an armchair ride - he was well and truly the best horse in the field and at weight-for-age on that track he had everything going for him,’’ she said.
Not only was it easy but Spratt was more than lucky to be on the horse.
Her luck was due to Kelly McCulloch’s misfortune after she was injured in a midweek fall at Ruakaka.
McCulloch stood down with suspected concussion after the nasty race day fall on Wednesday which left her battered and bruised but not suffering any long term injury.
‘‘It was good for me but not so good for Kelly but she gave me a call to say ‘well done’,’’ Spratt said.
Spratt recalls she has ridden just three or so times for the Myers stable and had no luck on a jumper having a flat run a few years ago at Riccarton but had plenty of luck on Balmuse winning the Rotorua Cup to go with her win on Scapolo.
‘‘That was sort of a pick-up ride [on Balmuse] as well,’’ she said.
Scapolo has now won 16 of his 47 and this was his third victory at Group level.
Maygrove enhanced his New Zealand Cup (3200m) credentials when taking out the Listed Jakkalberry Classic.