The bridesmaid no more
Lisa Latta enjoyed one of the most satisfying wins of her training career when veteran Authentic Paddy claimed a Group I victory on Boxing Day.
The Awapuni trainer produced the stable favourite for an upset win in the $200,000 Group I Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m) after five previous placings at the highest level, two of them in past two editions of the Ellerslie weight-for-age feature.
‘‘It’s just an absolute buzz,’’ Latta said. ‘‘He’s a lovely horse and he so deserved that. It’s been a great day for us.’’
She was on course at Awapuni where she celebrated a winning treble with That’s Amore, Lincoln’s Gal and Denny’s Lincoln.
Latta also pulled off a masterstroke by engaging Trudy Thornton to partner the eight-year-old Authentic Paddy who returned $22.60 on the tote.
‘‘He needs a strong rider and Trudy does exactly what she’s told,’’ she said.
Thornton got away with easy sectionals in front and Authentic Paddy did the rest, comfortably holding the challenge of Lizzie L’Amour at bay in the straight to score by a length and a-quarter.
Volkstok’n’barrell claimed third ahead of the defending champion Consensus and Benzini.
‘‘It’s amazing, he knows his job and he’s a pleasure to ride,’’ Thornton said.
With Thornton able to dictate a sit and sprint race on the Howbaddouwantit gelding, the favourite Hiflyer had no chance from back in the field and he ran eighth.
The Zabeel Classic also marked the final appearance of the Group I Australian Oaks winner Sofia Rosa. There was no fairy-tale end for the mare, who is in foal to Savabeel, and she finished seventh.
One race earlier, the Graeme and Debbie Rogerson-trained Contessa Vanessa upset predictions with a narrow victory in the $100,000 Group II Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at $22.40 on the tote.
Despite finishing an eye-catching third behind Savvy Coup in the Group III Eulogy Stakes (1550m) at her most recent run, the three-yearold Bullbars filly was overlooked as a winning prospect with attention focussed primarily on lightly raced Matamata filly Spring Heat and Group I 1000 Guineas winner Hasahalo.
Those who took the short odds on Spring Heat were feeling confident as rider Jake Bayliss had a lapful of horse as he angled for a run at the 300-metre mark.
Things quickly turned sour for the favourite as the gap slammed shut and she was badly checked, losing all momentum before running on again to finish fourth.
Just as Bayliss was having his chances extinguished, Contessa Vanessa’s rider Ryan Elliot was experiencing a similar feeling on Contessa Vanessa who had worked up a full head of steam at the 200-metre mark.
Inconvenienced behind a wall of horses, Elliot searched for a gap that magically appeared at just the right time.
Elliot remained calm as he drove his mount through one off the fence to grab a narrow victory from perennial bridesmaid Kapoor who had to settle for her fifth runner-up finish in her last six starts.
Rogerson will now back the filly up on New Year’s Day where she will tackle the Group II Stella Artois Royal Stakes (2000m).
‘‘I think she can win the Royal Stakes,’’ he said.
Hasahalo finished back in eighth.