Favourite True Enough captures rich mile
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained True Enough was backed into $4 favouritism by punters in the Group II Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) at Riccarton in Christchurch yesterday and he duly delivered, courtesy of a gun ride by leading hoop Matthew Cameron.
The son of Nom Du Jeu began well from barrier six and settled just off the speed behind Shadows Cast for Cameron.
The pair were able to stalk the Palmerston North galloper throughout before Cameron was able to find clear racing room down the straight and True Enough ran down fellow
Cambridge raider Vigor Winner to win by half-a-neck, with Sacred Day three-quarters of a length back in third.
It was the second group victory for the six-year-old gelding after winning the Group III Spring Sprint (1400m) at Hastings last month, and Cameron said True Enough was maturing into a quality racehorse.
‘‘Once I got stuck into him he really dug deep and all credit to the second horse, he took a while to get past,’’ Cameron said.
‘‘My horse is still learning and he is really starting to find that line which is great.
‘‘He is still quite raw. I know he has had a few starts but he is starting to grow up now.
‘‘Trina [Riddell, travelling foreman] and Jonathan [Riddell] and the team back at home have done a wonderful job with the horse.’’
It was the eighth career victory for the lightly-raced galloper and co-trainer Andrew Forsman said the patient approach taken by his connections was now starting to pay dividends.
‘‘Every time we have raised the bar with him he has stepped up, so it was nice to see him do that today.
‘‘He has been a slow maturer and the owners have been willing to be very patient with him and we have taken our time and it seems to be paying off.’’
True Enough is now likely to contest weight-for-age assignments, with the Group I Rydges
Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham next month a possible target.
Meanwhile, Melbourne-based jockey Michael Dee made a fleeting visit to Riccarton yesterday to join forces with emerging trainer and long-time friend Daniel Miller.
The pair combined for a double, including Group III success in the Lindauer Stewards Stakes Handicap (1200m) with four-year-old mare Sheezallmine.
Miller’s parents, John and Maree, bought Sheezallmine for just $1000 as a yearling from gavelhouse.com and the lightlyraced speedster has now won five of her nine starts, with a Group III victory adding to a last-start stakes placing.
Dee (23) and Miller (22) have both come through the equine ranks together and both are on a path to excellence in their respective trades.
‘‘Dan and I have been good mates for ages, way back to the showjumping days, then when we worked together at Te Akau [Racing Stables],’’ Dee said.
‘‘All credit to Dan, he is doing an absolutely fantastic job with all of his horses. He has only got a small team, but they are all winning.’’
Dee rated Sheezallmine to perfection to win by just over a length to defeat race favourite Sensei, who found the line well for second after being held up momentarily.
– NZ Racing Desk