Southern raid successful
TO say Waiuku trainer Sean Cameron went the extra mile to win at Wingatui yesterday is quite an understatement.
That is because Cameron went an extra 966 miles — or 1556km — away from his home base to line up winners Lord Sibsford and Hungry Eyes.
The trainer is on the 2017 edition of what has become a yearly raid on southern racetracks.
Lord Sibford’s trek south is also serving as the chance to make up for a major lost opportunity.
Cameron initially had the New Zealand Derby in mind for the 3yrold, but that plan never came off and the horse headed for a spell instead.
‘‘I was getting him ready for the Derby this year. That is how much I thought of him, but he was just a prep short.’’
Winning a maiden at Wingatui may not make up for his missed Derby opportunity, but it did prove to Cameron the horse was heading towards better goals.
The next of those was likely to be at Riccarton on Champagne Stakes day, in nine days’ time, Cameron said.
‘‘There is a lot of improvement there.
‘‘We have still got a couple of premier meetings down here, so we are on track.’’
Cameron also grabbed a winning training double when he combined with rider Rafi Fird-haus to win with Hungry Eyes in race 7.
The pair tracked into the race from off the speed before the home turn and unwound strongly down the outside of the track.
Lord Sibsford and Hungry Eyes are two of 15 horses Cameron has on his trek south.
The horses are based at Invercargill and are among the biggest team Cameron has brought on the southern raid.
‘‘I normally bring 12, but the numbers keep getting up.’’
Rafi Firdhaus got himself a winning riding double in race 8 aboard Minerva, though he took a run through the middle of the field rather than down the outside like he did aboard Hungry Eyes.
The win gave Riccarton trainer Aaron Taylor his first win as a trainer at Wingatui.
While the Michael and Matthew Pitmantrained Ywahoo did not have to trek quite as far as Sean Cameron’s team did to win yesterday, she certainly has plenty of travel on her agenda this week.
The 4yrold mare is among the nominations for both Friday and Sunday’s Marlborough meetings.
The horse would head north today for those assignments but would most likely step out on Sunday, rather than racing on both days, Pitman said.
In winning, Ywahoo overcame carrying a woeful form line, filled with unplaced runs, into race 1.
The main reason she was able to turn that around was a change of racing fortune after being forced wide in her previous start, Michael Pitman said.
Three jumpout heats will be held at the Wingatui racecourse today, starting at 10am.