The Snitzel gelding Deficit rounded out a profitable day for Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou when winning the $250,000 TAB The Wave (1800m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
The Rosehil-based trainers kick-started the day with the 3yo Russian Revolution gelding Silentsar in the $250,000 Magic Millions Maiden Plate.
Brenton Avdulla was on both. He gave Deficit a ground-saving ride tracking the pace. After a brief scare when searching for a run, Avdulla eased the son of Snitzel in to clean air to defeat the Dundeel gelding Ashgroveby a half-neck with the fast-finishing 3yo Written Tycoon filly Tyresa a half-length back in third.
It was Deficit's fifth win, and three of those have come in Queensland.
"It’s great for this horse to get another win. Strangely his last three wins have come up here. Obviously, he likes the sun up here,” Alexiou said.
“He’s been afforded three very good rides.
“I think that was the big difference between winning and losing today. Brenton just put him in the box seat and bided his time in the straight and got him out at the right time, and he held them off late.
“I saw him thinking about going up the inside, and I was praying he wasn't going to try it, but he pulled the right reign late. This sort of race, this horse wouldn't be afforded the chance to race for this sort of prize money very often. The owners have had a really good day.
In addition to the $146,000 winner’s cheque, Deficit banked a $200,000 bonus.
“Obviously, it's a restricted race, but we've targeted this race ever since he went out last preparation. It’s a big rap for the stable and all the owners and obviously for the horse because he's come good on the right day, Alexiou added.
A $65,000 purchase for Gerald Ryan/David Raphael from the Aquis Farm draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Deficit was among the bottom six of the 81 Snitzel yearlings sold in 2020.
Bred by Emirates Park, he is the fourth winner from as many to race for the Medaglia d'Oro (USA) mare Taqaseem.
A $210,000 purchase for Emirates Park at the 2016 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale, Taqaseem had more luck with her Written Tycoon colt Pyrois, which was a $1.2 million purchase for Spendthrift Australia at last year’s Magic Millions.
A half-sister to the Group 1 Doomben Cup winner Sense Of Occasion (Street Sense), Taqaseem has a yearling filly by Pride Of Dubai and a colt foal by Farnan. She was covered by Tassort in October.
