Zed Stayer Wins NZ St Leger

Media Release - Saturday March 20

Class prevailed at Trentham on Saturday when last-start Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) winner Waisake collected another feature race at the venue with a gritty victory in the Listed Fasttrack Insurance 5K New Zealand St. Leger (2600m).

Race favourite Waisake is well clear as he races to victory at Trentham Photo Credit: Race Images – Peter Rubery

Unsighted since taking out the Cup in late January with a booming late run, the Allan-Sharrock-trained six-year-old had his normal race tactics turned upside down when apprentice rider Hazel Schofer found herself trapped wide throughout the early stages of the race.

Schofer used her initiative to roll forward and sit outside leader Lincoln King as the pair set up a steady gallop out in front.

Advertisement

Schofer knew she was on the superior stayer and poured on the pressure approaching the home turn. Waisake responded gamely and shot two lengths clear before maintaining a solid gallop to outstay his rivals, with Skyphyta and Beaudz Well closing off well to finish in the minor placings.

Sharrock admitted he had his concerns when his charge was trapped three-wide, but praised Schofer for taking matters into her own hands during the mid-stages of the contest.

“You can’t sit three-wide for two bends, but he found his comfort zone and was clearly the best horse in the race,” Sharrock said.

“It’s what you want to see from an improving apprentice when they have to make a decision in a race.

“He hadn’t raced for six weeks but I had done as much as I could with him to get him race fit and in the end, he was authoritative.”

Sharrock advised his charge would now head to the spelling paddock before returning for a campaign that could see him target the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) in November as well as returning to defend his Wellington Cup title in January.

Schofer could hear Sharrock’s words ringing in her ears as she made her decision to go forward aboard Waisake at the 1600m mark.

“Allan always tells me not to get caught three-wide and if you do, roll forward,” she said.

“We were going easy enough, so I let him cruise and just sit off the leader.

“I know he stays, so I got on my bike early and then just let him roll down the straight.

“He always digs in, so you just have to make sure you get going early on him.”

A $28,000 purchase by Sharrock from the Ainsley Downs Stud draft at the 2016 Festival Yearling Sale at Karaka, Waisake has now won seven of his 24 starts and just under $250,000 in prizemoney. – NZ Racing Desk

 

Advertisment

Race Result - Fasttrack Ins. 5k Nz St Leger LR 2600m

Trentham Track: Dead(4) Time: 2:43.87
1
Waisake
- 6g Zed (NZ) x Kincia (NZ) (Kinjite (NZ))
Tnr: S A Sharrock Rdr: R H Schofer 56
2
2.5
Skyphyta
- 6g Pierro (AUS) x Stellaphyta (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: P M Goodwin Rdr: S T Collett 55
Pierro
3
2.6
Beaudz Well
- 4g Zed (NZ) x Celtic Rose (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: J R Wheeler Rdr: S R Weatherley 55
4
2.8
Beavertown Boy
- 4g Shocking (AUS) x Nightingale Island (NZ) (Viking Ruler (AUS))
Tnr: A M Bull Rdr: M J Mc Nab 55
5
3.1
Lincoln King
- 6g Shocking (AUS) x Shi Kin Fly (NZ) (Shinko King (IRE))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: D S Johnson 55
6
7.6
Springsteen
- 4g Stratum (AUS) x Eebee Pop (NZ) (Postponed (USA))
Tnr: J Benner & H Wynyard Rdr: L J Allpress 55
7
8.9
Duplicity
- 8g Duporth (AUS) x Bidthemobgooday (AUS) (Reset (AUS))
Tnr: A J Meadows Rdr: R T Elliot 55.5
8
9.7
Amano
- 5g Reliable Man (GB) x Lichen Moss (AUS) (Mossman (AUS))
Tnr: L O'Sullivan & A Scott Rdr: C J Grylls 55
9
10.7
Bingwa
- 5m Redwood (GB) x Princess Reims (NZ) (St Reims (NZ))
Tnr: G B Swann Rdr: K R Hercock 53
10
11.5
Dee And Gee
- 7m Darci Brahma (NZ) x Gabana (NZ) (Jungle Pocket (JPN))
Tnr: P R Corbett Rdr: L T Hemi 54
11
12.3
Baby Menaka
- 6m Zed (NZ) x Menaka (NZ) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: J & K Parsons Rdr: K Asano 53
12
17.1
Pickup
- 7g Zacinto (GB) x Lifter (NZ) (Danzighill (AUS))
Tnr: Kennedy Moore Rdr: M K Hudson 55
More Reading...
Yes Yes Yes Filly wins $100,000 Crystal Slipper
The $100,000 WATC Magic Millions Crystal Slipper (1100m) at Ascot on Saturday drew a competitive field of 13 and Yes Yes Yes filly Yes Queen produced a brilliant performance to score a dominant debut victory.
Barnstorming Win by Headwall in the Warra
The super-consistent Headwall reaped a just reward in the $300,000 Group III Snap Print Solutions Wollongong The Warra (1000m) at Kembla Grange.
Wings Of Song Makes Stunning Return
A star of the carnivals in Tasmania and South Australia, Wings Of Song made a triumphant return from a 30-week break to capture Saturday’s Rosemont Stud Pendant (1400m) at Cranbourne.
Better Than Ready's Port Lockroy Triumphs in G1 Railway Stakes
Interstate visitors have a poor winning record in the $1,500,000 Group 1 Swan Draught - Railway Stakes, but Port Lockroy played his part in squaring the ledger when choosing the perfect spot to end a run of bad luck in stakes races.
Kiwi Bred Comeback King Globe wins Cranbourne Cup
The super-talented Globe put a troubled 14 months behind him with a powerful all-the-way win in Saturday’s A$500,000 Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m).
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Xtravagant Gelding Nadal Brilliant in Meteorite
Ciaron Maher has a stranglehold on pop-up and slot races and was back in the winner's circle again after the inaugural running of the $1,000,000 The Ladbrokes Meteorite (1200m) at Cranbourne.
Another Feature Win for La Crique
La Crique sprouted wings in the Pukekohe straight on Saturday to come from a near-hopeless position and win the Gr.2 Dunstan Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) in a photo finish.
Gringotts Continues Kiwi Winning Run in $1million The Gong
Kiwi bred Gringotts continued his coming-of-age campaign with a powerhouse front-running performance under 60kg to win Saturday’s Group III A$1 million The Illawarra Mercury Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 23
Here is the full list of 117 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.