Heptagon cruises to a comfortable victory in the Swan Hill Cup (1600m) Photo: Pat Scala-Racing Photos
New Zealand-bred six-year-old Heptagon (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) provided jockey Dean Yendall with an armchair ride that allowed the Victorian hoop to register a unique Cups double over the weekend.
Little more than 24 hours after steering Patch Adams (Dane Shadow) to victory in the transferred Apsley Cup (2000m) at Casterton, Yendall partnered the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Heptagonto a popular win in Sunday’s Swan Hill Cup (1600m).
Well-supported to start the $2 favourite, Heptagon didn’t disappoint his backers with an easy three length victory over Sircconi (Nicconi) and Achernar Star (Gingerbread Man).
Kent was full of praise for Yendall’s ride on Heptagon and indicated the son of Jimmy Choux, who is prepared from the team’s Warrnambool base, could be given a shot at next month’s Listed Winter Championship Final (1600m) at Flemington.
“It was a perfect ride and he was given every chance,” Kent said.
“That (Winter Championship) was in the back of our mind pending him going on with it.
“We’ll get him home, he’ll have a week at the beach and the aim will probably be to get him to Flemington.”
Heptagon was raised and sold by Bradbury Park. He was offered on behalf of Nearco Stud at the 2015 Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka and bought by Price for $150,000.
He is from Seven Schillings, the top filly on the 2008-09 NZ 2YO Free Handicap as the winner of the Gr.3 Taranaki Classic (1200m) and runner-up in the Gr.1 Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie.
Heptagon is the elder half-brother to Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) winner Emily Margaret (NZ) (Pins).
