Wellington cup Winner for Shocking

Media Release - Saturday January 18

Underrated stayer Soleseifei completed a fairytale result for the Lupton family when she carried the colours worn by the legendary Kiwi to victory in the Group III NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham, thirty-seven years after the Snow Lupton-trained Waverley wonder scored in the event.

Soleseifei - Race ImagesPrepared at Waverley by Snow Lupton’s grand-daughter Jamie-Lee, the seven-year-old Shocking mare was having just her second run since November when a minor injury saw her miss a start in the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton.

Lupton fitted her charge for Saturday’s famous Trentham two-miler with an encouraging performance for third in the Listed Marton Cup (2200m) a fortnight ago, although she was mostly overlooked by punters as she started a $19 chance in the contest.

Any thoughts of receiving an easy run in the race were dashed early on when rider Trudy Thornton found herself trapped three-wide leaving the straight for the first time with the mare forced to cover extra ground throughout the race.

Thornton made her move approaching the home corner and sent Soleseifei to the lead upon straightening. Soleseifei kicked clear before being hotly challenged by Toms and The Good Fight over the final 200m.

In a blanket finish Thornton threw Soleseifei over the line half a head in front of The Good Fight with Toms just a further head away in third.

Thornton was quick to pay tribute to the grit of her mount.

“She was entitled (to get tired) as I didn’t get a great run and she was stuck out,” she said.

“She was very brave.

“I was hoping to be forward but I couldn’t get there. It wasn’t until we were going down the back that I go a drag up from Sam Spratt (Justamaiz) in the three-wide train.

Soleseifei is the tenth SW for Melbourne Cup winning sire Shocking “Turning for home she was travelling super although it’s a long straight to lead in, but she’s tough.”

The publicity shy Lupton was swamped by her extended family and a large bunch of well-wishers in the Trentham birdcage as she struggled to take in what she had just achieved.

“It’s pretty thrilling after Snowy did it with Kiwi and it’s just lovely for the mare to do it too,” she said.

“She had a trouble- free run because nothing was falling back on her as she has had that the whole way through.

“She is a bit of a cripple and I spend a fair bit of time with her but she never goes a bad race and she tries really hard.”

The tenth stakes-winner for Shocking, Soleseifei, was a $26,000 purchase from the Rich Hill Stud draft at the 2014 Select Yearling Sale at Karaka, and has now won five of her 29 career starts.

Rich Hill will offer a half-sister by first season sire Vadamos during the Book 2 session at the National Yearling Sale at Karaka that kicks off on January 26 as Lot 1100. – NZ Racing Desk

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Race Result - Wellington Cup Gr3 3200m

Trentham Track: Dead(4) Time: 3:20.03
1
Soleseifei
- 7m Shocking (AUS) x Evaline (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy (USA))
Tnr: J Lupton Rdr: T D Thornton 53
2
0.1
The Good Fight
- 5g High Chaparral (IRE) x Pravda (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: S F Ritchie Rdr: S R Weatherley 54
3
0.2
Toms
- 6g Towkay (AUS) x Steel Stilettos (AUS) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: D & E Haworth Rdr: C J Grylls 55.5
4
4.5
Cead Mile Failte
- 5m Tavistock (NZ) x Shamrox (NZ) (Pyrus (USA))
Tnr: J Benner & H Wynyard Rdr: L J Allpress 53
5
5.0
Dragon Storm
- 5g Shocking (AUS) x Prize Lady (NZ) (Prized (USA))
Tnr: C Gibbs & M Bradley Rdr: M T Coleman 53
6
5.1
Kamanda Lincoln
- 6g Savabeel (AUS) x Our Careyes (IRE) (Sadler's Wells (USA))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: D G Bradley 53
7
5.6
Excalibur
- 6g Tavistock (NZ) x Strabelle (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: S F Ritchie Rdr: S T Collett 54.5
8
8.1
King Of The Dance
- 5g Animal Kingdom (USA) x Spirited Dancer (IRE) (Sadler's Wells (USA))
Tnr: T Charles & P Corbett Rdr: M Hashizume 53
9
8.3
Sampson
- 10g Dubai Destination (USA) x Magic Star (AUS) (Danzero (AUS))
Tnr: H W Mathews Rdr: J Parkes 58
10
8.4
Artiste
- 6m Mastercraftsman (IRE) x Maidjeu (NZ) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: M Baker & A Forsman Rdr: M Cameron 53.5
11
9.2
Dezella
- 5m Zed (NZ) x Kasella (NZ) (Kaapstad (NZ))
Tnr: R J Patterson Rdr: R J Myers 53
12
11.5
Nitro Ted
- 9g Citi Habit (NZ) x Tiana (NZ) (Lord Ballina (AUS))
Tnr: P D Pascoe Rdr: R Kozaki 53
13
13.8
Dee And Gee
- 6m Darci Brahma (NZ) x Gabana (NZ) (Jungle Pocket (JPN))
Tnr: T Charles & P Corbett Rdr: L T Hemi 59
14
14.2
Justamaiz
- 5g Guillotine (NZ) x Arthena (NZ) (Desert Sun (GB))
Tnr: D G Greene Rdr: S C Spratt 57.5
15
15.2
Gorbachev
- 6g Gorky Park (NZ) x Gimmeawink (AUS) (Carnegie (IRE))
Tnr: B E Newman Rdr: R T Elliot 59
16
25.5
Diorissimo
- 7m Showcasing (GB) x Ivy Rose (NZ) (Don Eduardo (NZ))
Tnr: S & M Smith Rdr: D S Johnson 53.5
17
72.0
Johnny Lincoln
- 7g Savabeel (AUS) x Samantha Jane (NZ) (Danasinga (AUS))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: R J Hannam 53
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