Figure Again scores Stratford Cup upset
An eventing career has been put on hold after Figure Again scored an upset victory in the $ 20,000 Stratford Cup ( 2000m) at Stratford yesterday.
The rank outsider at odds of 20- 1 was “sacked” by part- owner and trainer Kay Lane after the Ishihuru seven- year- old added to a long string of outs when beating just one horse home in the Manawatu Cup Prelude ( 2000m) at Awapuni on December 14.
“The eventing lady who was going to take him over didn’t come to pick him up,” Lane said.
“I only brought him back for a mate for Rise And Fall, the other horse I was bringing up here who didn’t get a start off the ballot.
“So [ Figure Again] has only been back in work for 10 days and has been going to the beach and doing a bit of jumping.”
Lane said Figure Again had been unpredictable all his life.
“He’s a cheat really and its just like him to now go and finish last in his next four races,” she said.
Lane has no definite plans for Figure Again, but said one thing for certain was that she would be contacting the potential buyer and saying the deal was off.
“She won’t be getting him now. Not for now, anyway.”
Lane ruled out a start for Figure Again at the upcoming Wellington Racing Club’s three- day cup carnival, saying the horse had previously shown a dislike for the Trentham track.
Much of the credit for Figure Again’s return to winning form must go to in- form New Plymouth jockey Vanessa Johnston, who outsmarted her rival riders
Johnston, on the back of a win ning treble at Southland earlier in the month, was allowed to se a leisurely pace in front, much to the disgust of some rival trainers
Turning for home, Johnston asked her mount to lengthen stride and immediately got the re sponse she wanted.
Figure Again put a length or two on his rivals and maintained a good gallop all the way up the testing uphill Stratford straigh to win by three- quarters of a length over Pirinitete.
A further long neck back was race favourite Pump Up The Vol ume, who battled on well after be ing near the pace from the outset while the fast- finishing Skytower was next home.
Figure Again has now won six races from 51 starts and yester day’s win took his earnings to just over $ 83,000.
Lane races the horse in part nership with her husband Peter and a syndicate of ex or curren Racing Board workers or admin istrators.