Wait A Sec upsets Gingernuts
Gingernuts was less than even money to win Sunday’s Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings. But the short-priced hot pot played second fiddle to a long-shot local named Wait A Sec.
The $250,000 Group I feature was something of an afterthought for the 7-year-old who has found a new lease of life since his trainers Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen changed his training regime.
The big race was designed to be a lead-up to the New Zealand Cup
(3200m) next month at Riccarton but that didn’t matter.
He was successful in the Egmont Cup (2100m) last weekend, his sixth win from his last eight appearances and bounced around his paddock all week encouraging connections to take their place in the Livamol.
‘‘He came through Hawera well and you wouldn’t have known he’d had a race. He looked fantastic and we decided to back him up,’’ Cullen said. ‘‘He’s obviously a very fit and happy horse.’’
Between races Wait A Sec rarely sees the track, working instead around a farm so he doesn’t get bored.
‘‘He does a lot of dressage as well and it’s turned him around,’’ Cullen said. ‘‘This is massive, it’s a huge thrill.’’
Jockey Johnathan Parkes picked a rails-hugging path on the
$31 outsider after considering going wider at one stage.
The decision to duck back to the inside was the difference between winning and losing as summed up by Opie Bosson the rider of $1.90 favourite Gingernuts. ‘‘He had every possible chance,’’ Bosson said.
‘‘We got there at the right time but the other horse {Wait A Sec] probably got a better run along the inside.’’
Despite his defeat, Gingernuts is still under consideration for an Australian campaign while whether Wait A Sec goes on to the New Zealand Cup is now up for discussion.
‘‘It’s probably not so necessary now,’’ Cullen said. ‘‘We’ll sit down in the next week and decide what to do.’’ Rank outsider Endean Rose ran the race of her life for third with Saint Emilion fourth completing a $115,000-plus first four dividend.
While Parkes was enjoying his second longshot win in the Livamol after Ransomed a few years ago, Samantha Collett’s weekend went from good to better when riding Miss Wilson to Group III success in the Red Badge Spring Sprint (1400m) for another local trainer John Bary.
Collett rode Prom Queen to black-type success at Ashburton on Saturday and said riding quality horses ‘‘makes my job easy’’.
Miss Wilson is a half-sister to former champion 3-year-old, now sire Jimmy Choux, and was too classy for her opposition and lengthened impressively for an easy win.
‘‘She’s a class mare and she put them away,’’ Collett said. ‘‘I got the ideal spot and she knows where the post is – she’s come in a lot stronger this time.’’
Her connections think she’s strong enough to take on Group I company with the Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on her agenda.
Prior to that she will go to the Tauranga Stakes (1600m) on November 18. ‘‘It’s been a long wait for a good track,’’ said co-owner Richard Wood. ‘‘She’s a lovely mare and it was a great ride.’’