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Evergreen galloper Waikato has emerged as the top local hope for next month's Singapore Airlines International Cup with a brave victory in the Group 2 $350,000 Queen Elizabeth II Cup over 2000m on Friday night.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
The rising nine-year-old has showed that he has lost none of his zest for racing with a hard fought victory.
Sent off the $15 favourite, Waikato, ridden by Joao Moreira, scored by a length over New Rose Wood (Danny Beasley) with Flax (Jose Verenzuela) a half-length away third.
Waikato ran the 2000m journey in 2min 05.53 secs, more than six seconds outside the course record set by Gloria De Campeao in winning the 2009 SIA Cup.
Moreira had Waikato settled in fifth position in the early stages of the race behind the pace that was set by Clint (Stephen Baster) with Rafaga (Saimee Jumaat) and Flax next in line.
Going down the back straight Clint opened up a two to three length advantage before Verenzuela decided to edge forward on Flax and from the 800m mark he was eyeballing the leader.
Rounding the turn Flax took over as Clint began to weaken but before this Moreira had taken himself away from the fence and was beginning a move out three wide.
Soon after straightening Moreira asked Waikato to sprint and the eight-year-old quickly put the issue beyond doubt as he opened up a two length lead over Flax who was chasing hard, but it was left to New Rose Wood to come out of the pack and close on the winner to provide her connections with yet another placing in a feature event.
Trainer Laurie Laxon, who also owns the gelding, is amazed with Waikato's exploits after he was restricted early in his career to sprint trips before the master New Zealander stepped him up to 2000m, finishing fourth and third respectively at the last two SIA Cups.
“I am totally amazed by him,” said Laxon. “To see him racing he just is so happy in himself.
“He has never put his ears back at any stage of his career. He's a racehorse and just loves being one.
“He's a very easy horse to train and has kept getting better with age. As a younger horse he was a bit fractious and that was why we kept him to the shorter trips.
“But as he's got older he's become more relaxed and he's put up some very good efforts at 2000m.
“In fact he's a horse that you could give him a month off and turn him around in a 1200m race and he will still put up a good showing.”
While winless previously at 2000m, Waikato had had only three previous attempts at the journey, finishing fourth in last year's QEII Cup along with his two previous SIA Cup performances.
“The beauty with this horse is he relaxes so well in his races now,” said Laxon. “He settles so well and you can ride him on a piece of cotton, but he still has a good sprint as he showed tonight.”
Moreira, who completed a winning treble aboard Waikato, said the gelding would be a good ride in the Group 1 $3 million SIA Cup over 2000m on May 20.
Laxon also has Better Than Ever heading towards the SIA Cup and Moreira has been riding that gelding in recent assignments.
“I didn't feel all that confident before the race tonight,” said Moreira. “But we got a nice position after an early check and he travelled so well.
“The pace was quite slow early which helped him and around the 700m I decided to get off the fence and make a move into the race.
“He sprinted very quickly when I asked him and he responded well to the stick when I showed that to him.
“Laurie is such a great trainer and he's got this horse going so well. Shane (Ellis) has also done a great job and a special thank you must go to the syce's who look after this horse.
“The way this horse is going he's going to be a good ride for someone in the SIA Cup.
“He's in form and at the top of his game and he was strong all the way tonight.”
Waikato's success on Friday night was his 19th from 66 starts and with a further 21 minor placings to his credit the eight-year-old edged his way even closer to the magical $3 million mark.
By Pins from the from the Wilkes mare Skywalker Wilkes, Waikato is raced by Laxon's Silver Fern Racing.