Sponge Bob sinks punters
OUTSIDER Sponge Bob ($34) upset predictions when he produced a dour staying effort yesterday to take out the Waikato Guineas (2000m) at Te Rapa, in the hands of replacement rider Troy Harris.
Harris received a late call-up for the ride on the three-year-old Keeper gelding, after ill-health prevented original jockey Michael Coleman from taking the mount.
Harris followed the instructions of Matamata cotrainer, Graham Richardson, to the letter as he positioned
Sponge Bob just in behind a steady speed, set-up by free-going pacemaker Arrogant.
Harris tracked race favourite Sword In Stone into contention and issued his challenge at the 200m mark. With Arrogant fighting on strongly the trio set down to a tooth-and-nail battle over the concluding stages, with Sponge Bob fighting best to down Arrogant by a neck, with a short head back to Sword In Stone in third.
Richardson, who prepares the gelding with training partner Gavin Parker, made it back-toback wins in the event after Niagara gelding Xbox took out the race in 2018. He was quick to praise the effort of Harris, who had followed their pre-race plan to perfection.
‘‘I told him that most of the time at Te Rapa they haul up down the back straight so if you are there you get a rest,’’ he said.
‘‘It was a great result and I’m really chuffed for the owners and the staff and the horse.’’ Richardson admitted he had no real confidence and was hoping his charge could fill a dividendbearing placing after breaking his maiden status on the track at his last start.
‘‘I thought if he could run in TRISH DUNELL the first three, I would be rapt,’’ he said. ‘‘This is just an absolute bonus. He’s not entered for the [NZ] Derby as at the time of the early noms he wasn’t showing us much and the last thing I want to do is waste people’s money.
‘‘He just keeps getting better so I will discuss it with the owners now and we could pay the late entry.’’ Nominations for the Derby (2400m) closed last November, but a late nomination can be submitted by February 19 at a fee of $30,003.
The last horse to win the Derby after paying the late entry fee was fan-favourite
Gingernuts.