Two wins from two for He’s Cavalier
Ultra consistent He’s Cavalier, owned and trained by James Hatton at Pukekohe Park, made it two wins from as many starts at Waipa¯ taking out the Cal Isuzu Te Awamutu Cup over 2000 metres.
Hatton said he always felt He’s Cavalier would win in the hands of jockey Rebecca Scott on Wednesday.
“He’s raced against the best horses all his life, unlike the other horses in the Cup field. There is a difference between winning Wednesday races and Saturday races.
“I thought he would have put lengths on the field before entering the home straight. However, at the point of the turn he got stuck in behind them when squeezed against the rail by horses on the outside. It wasn’t ideal as he’s not really a sit and sprint horse.”
Once in the clear, He’s Cavalier showed his class winning by a length from race favourite Roger That (Samantha Collett) with over five lengths back to third placed Waipipi Lad (Sam Spratt).
A delighted Hatton said his Cup winner had always been consistent throughout his whole career. He entered the race with solid form of 5, 1, 1, 3, 5 over varying distances in his last five starts.
“It was his 60th start at Waipa¯ and he’s been in the first five 46 times. Not many horses in New Zealand can boast a record of that magnitude. And he’s won on nearly every ground condition thrown at him.
“He’s seven years old now and only been out of the money 14 times over the past four years. Three of those times he was pulled up by the jockey thinking he’d broken down and was pulled up on another occasion thinking he had heart fibrillation symptoms.”
Hatton said he is disappointed He’s Cavalier will not start again until the Counties Cup on November 24.
“It’s not ideal. I’d like him to have a run between now and then but it’s very hard placing horses in staying races in New Zealand. Our cause isn’t helped by the horse not liking travelling.”
Hatton has enjoyed a long and illustrious career as a trainer.
“I’ve been fortunate to have never been without a pretty good horse,” he said, rating Rapid Rielle, winner of five races, as one of his best ever.
Darrell Hollinshead had one of his more memorable days as a trainer on Te Awamutu Cup day at Waipa Racing Club.
Of his four runners, Gocara placed third in race one, Tunzagutz won race two, Mr Linski won race four, Little Shirley suffered from interference in race seven and Stacey Ann weighed in for fifth in the Cup race.
Tunzagutz won the Vilagrad Winery 2000 by half a length with Samantha Collett aboard. The 4yo mare had placed twice previously at Waipa¯ and served a warning to his opposition when placing an improved fourth over 1800m at Taupo¯ on October 10.
Mr Linski went out hot favourite, paying $1.90 for the win in the PIC Insurance 1400. The 4yo gelding repaid the punters by romping to a 4.5 length victory, well ridden by jockey Daniel Hain. Previous starts this preparation had seen Mr Linski fight hard for third and second placings at Waipa¯ on October 7 and Waikato on October 22.
The Hollinshead-trained Little Shirley, like a number of runners in race seven, suffered from interference in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race when Castlereigh and jockey Ashvin Goindasamy parted company after the horse clipped heels with another runner on the dummy straight around 700m from home. Castlereigh came through the ordeal unscathed while Goindasamy was taken to Waikato Hospital for observation.
The race was won by the Team Rogerson-trained Olivia, paying $11.70.
Last-start runner-up Eridani went one better to secure her maiden victory in the Waipa¯ Home of Champions (1150m).
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