Enzo’s Lad lays claim to sprinter crown
A desperate finish to the feature sprint at Trentham was decided by the photo-finish camera as South Island sprinter Enzo’s Lad pipped Ferrando by the barest of margins to take out his second Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) on Saturday.
After mulling over the photo-finish image for several minutes judge Dick Hunt declared the Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained sixyear-old the winner – the first horse to win the race in consecutive years since Mir Tiz in 1989/90.
The announcement sparked jubilant scenes in the Trentham birdcage as the large syndicate of owners went into overdrive celebrating the victory.
Successful at bolter’s odds ($74) in 2018, Enzo’s Lad was again overlooked by punters despite being drawn to receive a dream run on the rail from a similar inside barrier to last year.
Positioned perfectly in the trail by rider Michael McNab, Enzo’s Lad travelled sweetly to the turn behind the hot speed set by Ferrando’s stablemate, Gift Of Power. Ferrando took over at the 300m mark with Enzo’s Lad in hot pursuit as the pair hit the line locked together in a sensational 1.06.95 for the 1200m.
Enzo’s Lad won by a nose with stablemate Sensei capping a sensational result for the Pitman team by storming home to dead-heat for third with 2017 winner and fellow southerner, Signify.
‘‘We went into the race with a lot of confidence as he went massive at his last start,’’ Canterbury trainer Michael Pitman said.
‘‘I was annoyed last year when he wasn’t a candidate for sprinter-miler of the year as people had described that field as the best in
20 years. He’s come out today and beaten an even better field, so I think he deserves some sort of recognition for that.
‘‘He might come back now and have a crack next year. If you only win one race a year, but it’s a Group One, then it’s worth racing horses.’’ Race favourite Melody Belle was the major disappointment, finishing well back after finding a mid-field position in the early running, with rider Jason Waddell reporting the mare had failed to handle the track.
● Lightweight contender Gorbachev proved the toughest stayer as he hauled in gritty South Island mare Dee And Gee in the final few strides to claim victory in the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m).
Dee And Gee was trying to provide the South Island with their second major prize on the day after Enzo’s Lad’s win and shot to the front with 700m to run but Gorbachev just grabbed him.