Talented winter galloper Herengawe came of
age at Awapuni on Saturday when he out-toughed his rivals to score his first
win at stakes level when he took out the Gr.3 Boehringer Ingelheim Metric Mile
(1600m).
Bred and owned by talented jumps rider
Isaac Lupton, the Joanne Moss-trained five-year-old has impressed as he has
made his way through the grades since commencing his current campaign back in
April.
After winning three of his first five
starts in this preparation, he produced a determined run for third in the
Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) behind Helena Baby before tackling the Gr.3 Winter
Cup (1600m) at Riccarton, where he finished a meritorious sixth behind eventual
winner Dez.
Runner-up finishes in his next two starts
had the Zed gelding cherry ripe for his latest challenge and he didn’t
disappoint, courtesy of a peach of an effort from rider Darryl Bradley.
Bradley had his charge in a handy position
throughout before launching his bid early in the run home. Joined by the well
supported Mauna Kea, the pair set down to a tooth and nail battle over the
closing 200m that saw Herengawe thrust his head in front at the post to down
his gallant rival with Dez fighting bravely on the inner for third.
Trainer Joanne Moss had left the raceday
activities to her partner Lupton and had to settle for listening to the triumph
as she slogged her way through milking duties on their three hundred-cow
dairying unit back at home in Waverley.
“I was in the middle of milking the cows
when the race came on,” Moss said.
“It was just like the old days before the
television coverage. I will get to see the replay but from what I heard it
sounded like a wonderful ride from Darryl and a pretty gritty effort.
“He’s been a real revelation in this
campaign as he just seems to be getting better and better.
“I wanted to put him out for a spell after
he came back from Riccarton but he was doing too well. We gave him a trial and
then a run at Waverley and he thrived.
“Last time he ran second at Ellerslie and I
thought that might be enough but he was bouncing around so much we decided to
press on and try for this race so It’s wonderful that he has pulled it off.
“Isaac is there with him at the track so we might have a small celebration when he gets home but the cows will still need to be milked tomorrow morning so it won’t be too big.”
Herengawe is the second foal of Germano mare Vim and has now won seven of his 18 starts and over $210,000 in prizemoney.