Wyndspelle blows away G1 curse
A perennial bridesmaid at the highest level, consistent Otaki galloper Wyndspelle finally cracked a maiden Group One triumph, when he took out the $200,000 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) in fine style at Trentham yesterday.
No-one could deny the sixyear-old Iffraaj entire deserved a second win in stakes company following his G2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) victory as a three-yearold, as he had recorded 11 blacktype placings, including four runner-up finishes at G1 level.
The Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard-trained galloper had tuned up for the contest with a fast-finishing second to the promising Rock On Wood at Awapuni last month, and was installed a $5.60 second favourite behind Matamata mare Supera ($2).
A tardy beginning didn’t augur well for his chances as he settled near last against the fence for rider Jason Waddell, but he played a waiting game before moving closer approaching the home turn.
Angled into the middle of the track, Wyndspelle produced an irresistible burst that quickly took him to the front, where he comfortably held out a game Shadows Cast, with Cambridge visitor True Enough making up plenty of ground to finish third ahead of Supera.
Amidst jubilant scenes in the Trentham birdcage co-trainer Benner was trying hard to keep his emotions in check.
‘‘We’ve all had some special days on a racecourse but this is a special horse and he deserved that,’’ Benner said.
‘‘It was a peach of a ride as Jason is a very very good jockey and half a mile out, I knew we were a winning chance as Jason was just sitting so quietly.
‘‘I know this will mean a lot to
Jason as he has a great association with the horse and he chose to ride him over a couple of others and he was repaid.’’
Benner was quick to pay tribute to part-owner Jen Campin, who placed Wyndspelle with him and Wynyard after the horse returned from a seven-month stint in Australia, after doing his early racing from the Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs stable at Ruakaka.
‘‘It’s a massive reward for her as people like that put a lot of money into the game, so obviously these results are very special.’’ Wyndspelle holds a nomination for the Telegraph (1200m) and Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham next month.
Waddell was also choking back the tears.
‘‘He’s a horse that I’ve always been so fond of and he deserved it more than anybody else out here,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s pretty cool. He got out a little bit stagnant as he can do and the race was upside down as I didn’t expect a speed like that, so I just let him get comfortable.
‘‘He’s so brave as he got there at the 200m and I just had to keep his mind on the job.’’
‘‘We’ve all had some special days on a racecourse but this is a special horse.’’ Otaki co-trainer Johno Benner