Sleeping Beauty awakens again

Winter track specialist Sleeping Beauty didn’t let a chance pass her by at Tauranga yesterday.

She revelled in the heavy going to bounce back to her best and win for the sixth time in her 13-start career when successful in the Aongatete Coolstores Limited Premier (1200m).

Raced by Sir Peter Vela, Sleeping Beauty had struggled in the opening two runs of her current campaign on ground firmer than is her preference.

“Her two trials before her first two runs were super and we thought she was flying, but she ran into a couple of tracks that were too good,” said Andrew Scott, who trains with Lance O’Sullivan.

“Sir Peter and [racing manager] Gary Cossey have been really patient. This was her first run for seven weeks, so that was a question mark, and it’s fantastic to see her back in form now the winter tracks are here.”

Sleeping Beauty was ridden by stable apprentice Taiki Yanagida.

“It was a good ride, he showed good judgement in letting her slide up to the leader so it’s good for his confidence,” Scott said.