Trentham turf crowns Waisake, Melody Belle
Wellington Cup winner Waisake and queen-of-the-turf Melody Belle showed their class at Trentham yesterday.
Race favourite Waisake completed a plan eight months in the making when he stormed home to take out the $250,000 Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham yesterday.
Taranaki trainer Allan Sharrock had told plenty of people he felt the son of Zed was a true two-miler in the making, and was keen to formulate a plan that had the famous Trentham staying contest as the ultimate prize.
That plan began to take shape when Waisake was successful over 2000m during the Hastings spring carnival last year, with Sharrock carefully plotting a path to have his charge at peak for his Trentham assignment.
Making full use of an inside barrier, rider Sam Collett had Waisake ($3) travelling easily throughout before beginning to creep into contention with 800m to run.
Collett diligently followed instructions to angle off the fence to make her run wider out in the home straight, but was still giving rank outsider Bluey’s Chance ($130) a big start with 300m left to run.
Collett didn’t panic as she wound her mount up for one final sprint and he delivered in style to collar Bluey’s Chance with 50m to run and ease clear by halfa-length, with Te Rapa visitor Justamaiz ($16) storming home from near last to snatch third from Swords Drawn.
‘‘It’s taken eight months, but we’ve ticked it off,’’ Sharrock said.
‘‘I knew I had him right, but the ride was a little tough early as I wanted him off the fence.
‘‘She saved all the ground though and got off at the right time. The other two had gone [clear] but she hadn’t really got at him until the furlong [200m] and he is resolute, a really nice staying horse.
‘‘There’s nothing better than setting them for a race and then pulling it off.
‘‘That’s why we stay in the game, to try and achieve that.
‘‘He’s a lightly raced horse that will get better with age, so hopefully I will as well.’’
The victory was Collett’s third over the two-mile journey after taking out the last two G1 Auckland Cups (3200m) with Glory Days and Roger That respectively, and is quietly gaining a reputation as the two-mile Queen.
‘‘To be quite fair my part in the win is quite small compared to the months and months it takes to get these horses ready for a race like this,’’ Collett said.
‘‘All credit to the Sharrock team to get him here and with a lovely light weight (53kg).
‘‘It worked out well, but he had to tough it out and left it to the last few strides to get the win.
‘‘It wasn’t where I was supposed to be, but I had to just ride my race and to measure how much gas your horse has.
‘‘He was travelling a little bit too good for how I would have liked, then hit a flat spot at the 1000m, so he was brave to muster his way through it and it is a tribute to his fitness he finished off so well.’’
Purchased for just $28,000, Waisake has now won six of his 23 starts for a large group of owners, including Sharrock ,and takes his prizemoney earnings past $220,000.
Champion mare Melody Belle has equalled the record of mighty mare Sunline after completing her 13th career Group One win when taking out the $200,000 Thorndon Mile (1600m).
The Jamie Richards-trained mare was having her first start since finishing a game third in the G1 McKinnon Stakes (2000m) during the Melbourne spring carnival in November, but had produced a sparkling run at the Matamata trials.
With regular rider Opie Bosson in the saddle, the 6-yearold travelled kindly in midfield throughout and she effortlessly slipped into top gear and took command. Despite being hotly challenged by eventual placegetters Sinarahma and Deerfield, Melody Belle had too much class as she cruised home by just over a length at the post.
Richards was all smiles as the appreciative on-course crowd welcomed his charge back to the birdcage with a standing ovation.
‘‘I can remember Sunline racing and the [G1] race she won in Hong Kong more so than anything else.
‘‘To equal her record is wonderful as she was the mare of the world and while we’ve done it mainly in New Zealand, it is still very good to equal it.
‘‘I’m very proud of her as she has done so much for my career.’’