Plan change earns career-high win
A mid-winter change in plans is proving a master-stroke for Matamata couple Hamish and Karyn McQuade with their wonderful racemare Underthemoonlight.
When Underthemoonlight won the Tauranga Classic in late June, initial intentions were for a let-up and an attempt at back-to-back wins in the Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes in October. But she was having none of that, so perky in her spelling paddock in fact that she risked injuring herself and leaving no option but to put her back into training.
That’s when the McQuades decided to target the Gr. 1 Lisa Chittick Foxbridge Plate and at Te Rapa on Saturday the plan came off with a career-high win in the $100,000 race.
After the field for the weightfor-age sprint was released on Wednesday and Underthemoonlight had been allocated barrier 15, tactics became the number one topic between Karyn the trainer, Hamish the part-owner and jockey Cameron Lammas.
The key to Underthemoonlight’s racing style had always been to allow her time to find her feet before mounting her final burst and Karyn stood her ground, insisting that the additional factor of a wide draw on the heavy track left no option but to settle at the back of the field.
Hamish wasn’t so sure, and nor was Cameron in their belief that against the best field Underthemoonlight had ever met she could not give them all a start. Mother knew best, however, and Karyn’s instructions were ringing
‘‘I was feeling better once I set her alight, she was loving the ground and she picked them up easily.’’
in her jockey’s ears when the field jumped.
Sure enough, Underthemoonlight was last once the 14-horse field had sorted itself out and no better off heading out of the back straight, but when Cameron decided to release the brakes it was obvious she was up for the challenge.
Around the field she went and loomed wide out on the point of the home turn. Fellow Matamata galloper Southern Icon was still in front but in no time Underthemoonlight had the race won, putting a break on her rivals and still holding a three-quarterlength margin at the line over late finishers Close Up and Kawi.
‘‘When Hamish told me what the tactics were I wasn’t too sure,’’ said the winning jockey after unsaddling. ‘‘I know she’s won races from the back but I wasn’t keen on giving so much away to a field like this, midfield maybe but not out the back door.
‘‘I was feeling better once I set her alight, she was loving the ground and she picked them up easily. Once she got there they were never going to beat her.’’
Saturday’s win took Underthemoonlight’s stakeearnings past $250,000, the result of five wins and 11 placings from 22 starts. An even greater prize now awaits in the Gr. 1 Tarzino Trophy at Hastings on Saturday week.
‘‘We’ve thought for a long time she’s a Group One mare and today I think she’s proven it,’’ commented Hamish McQuade on Saturday.
The favourite for that race is another local star, Volpe Veloce, who made such a stunning return earlier this month, while Underthemoonlight’s odds have shortened to $10.