Deserved G1 Win for Wyndspelle

Media Release - Saturday December 7

A perennial bridesmaid at the highest level, consistent galloper Wyndspelle finally cracked a maiden Group One triumph when he took out the Gr.1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) in fine style at Trentham.

Wyndspelle - Race ImagesNo-one could deny the six-year-old Iffraaj entire deserved a second win in stakes company following his Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) victory as a three-year-old, as he had recorded eleven black type placings including four runner-up finishes at Group One level.

The Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard-trained galloper had tuned up for Saturday’s contest with a fast-finishing second to the promising Rock On Wood at Awapuni last month and was installed a $5.60 second favourite behind Matamata mare Supera ($2.00).

A tardy beginning didn’t augur well for his chances as he settled near last against the fence for rider Jason Waddell, however, Waddell played a waiting game before moving closer approaching the home turn.

Angled into the middle of the track, Wyndspelle produced an irresistible burst that quickly took him to the front where he comfortably held out a game Shadows Cast with Cambridge visitor True Enough making up plenty of ground to finish third ahead of Supera.

Amidst jubilant scenes in the Trentham birdcage co-trainer Benner was trying hard to keep his emotions in check as he waited for his charge to return to the winner’s stall.

“We’ve all had some special days on a racecourse but this is a special horse and he deserved that,” Benner said.

“It was a peach of a ride as Jason is a very very good jockey and half a mile out, I knew we were a winning chance as Jason was just sitting so quietly.

“I know this will mean a lot to Jason as he has a great association with the horse and he chose to ride him over a couple of others and he was repaid.”

Benner was quick to pay tribute to part-owner Jen Campin who placed Wyndspelle with he and Wynyard after the horse returned from a seventh month stint in Australia after doing his early racing from the Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs stable at Ruakaka.

“We’ve got all of Jen’s horses in the barn now and she is just so easy to train for as she lets you do your own thing,” he said.

“It’s a massive reward for her as people like that put a lot of money into the game, so obviously these results are very special.”

Wyndspelle holds a nomination for a number of upcoming summer features including both the Gr.1 J R & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m) and Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham next month with Benner relaxed about what path he takes to get there.

“He owes us nothing so we will just take it week by week but there is a lovely summer programme for the horse,” he said.

Waddell was also choking back the tears as he dismounted after the race.

“He’s a horse that I’ve always been so fond of and he deserved it more than anybody else out here,” he said.

“It’s pretty cool.

“He got out a little bit stagnant as he can do and the race was upside down as I didn’t expect a speed like that, so I just let him get comfortable.

“I got him out at the top of the straight and I saw Shadows Cast there and I thought this is going to be a good little battle.

“He’s so brave as he got there at the 200m and I just had to keep his mind on the job.”

A $75,000 purchase from the Hallmark Stud draft by bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo at the 2015 Select Yearling Sale, Wyndspelle has now won four times and been placed on a further sixteen occasions from his 39 career starts, with over $775,000 in stakes earnings. - NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Captain Cook Stakes Gr1 1600m

Trentham Track: Good(3) Time: 1:34.66
1
Wyndspelle
- 6h Iffraaj (GB) x Western Star (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: J Benner & H Wynyard Rdr: J L Waddell 59
2
1.3
Shadows Cast
- 7g Per Incanto (USA) x Ages Past (NZ) (Slavic (USA))
Tnr: M K Oulaghan Rdr: L J Allpress 59
3
2.1
True Enough
- 6g Nom Du Jeu (NZ) x Valda's Dream (NZ) (Sakura Seeking (USA))
Tnr: M Baker & A Forsman Rdr: J K Riddell 59
4
3.4
Supera
- 5m Savabeel (AUS) x Sopra Tutto (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy (USA))
Tnr: K & B Kelso Rdr: M T Coleman 57
5
5.2
Tiptronic
- 6g O'Reilly (NZ) x Tiptoes (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: G N Richardson Rdr: C E Lammas 59
6
5.4
Vernanme
- 4h O'Reilly (NZ) x Bohemian Blues (NZ) (Blues Traveller (IRE))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: D S Johnson 59
7
6.7
Darscape Princess
- 6m Darci Brahma (NZ) x Cape Princess (NZ) (Cape Cross (IRE))
Tnr: F J Auret Rdr: J Parkes 57
8
7.1
Dolcetto
- 7g Per Incanto (USA) x Our Shiraz (NZ) (Nediym (IRE))
Tnr: Ms S Kay Rdr: C W Johnson 59
9
9.9
He Kin Fly
- 7g Darci Brahma (NZ) x Shi Kin Fly (NZ) (Shinko King (IRE))
Tnr: N F Ridley Rdr: L G Innes 59
10
12.9
Whenharrymetsaddle
- 5g D'Cash (AUS) x Ciarlatano (NZ) (One Cool Cat (USA))
Tnr: B D Revell Rdr: R T Elliot 59
More Reading...
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Griffin Gets the Bickies at Taupo for Te Akau
gavelhouse graduate Griffin , a full brother to Gingernuts, produced a promising fresh up performance at Taupo on Sunday, much to the delight of the Te Akau Slam Dunk Syndicate.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
Consolation for Jaameh in Queen Elizabeth
Narrowly beaten in the Group III The Bart Cummings and third in the Group III Lexus Stakes, Shadwell Stud’s 6yo Iffraaj (GB) gelding Jaameh (IRE) missed a start in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup but found a consolation in Saturday’s $300,000 Group III Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington.
Timaru Cup Win for Who Dares Wins
There were emotional scenes in the Timaru birdcage following the running of the Listed Craigmore Sustainable Holdings Ltd Timaru Cup (1600m) on Saturday as the connections of Who Dares Wins waited for their pride and joy to return to the winner’s enclosure.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
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.
New Stakes-Winner for Iffraaj
Local runner Who Dares Wins upset the favourites when he produced a bold finishing burst to capture his first win at stakes level when scoring in the Listed Christchurch Casino Easter Cup (1600m).
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.