Promising stayer Whangaehu (NZ) (Proisir) claimed his biggest success when came with a bullocking late run to take out the Listed Steelform Roofing Group Wanganui Cup (2040m) on Saturday.
The six-year-old son of Proisir has always promised to perform at a higher level and finished off his last campaign with a creditable performance in the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) before finding a Heavy10 track too testing when near the rear in the Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m).
Trainer Bill Thurlow lined him up for his season opener at Trentham last month, where he made ground nicely for sixth over 1400m in Rating 75 company before fitting him for the Wanganui feature with a winning 1400m trial at Foxton on 19 November.
Many felt that the preparation may not be suited to a solidly run middle-distance contest, however Thurlow and Whangaehu had the last laugh as rider Lily Sutherland produced an inch-perfect ride to lodge a winning claim in the final 100m as Whangaehu defeated Orlov (NZ) (Sweynesse) by a long neck.
Thurlow was quick to praise Sutherland after she rode an impeccable race from an inside barrier.
“It was a very, very good ride and the draw made it for us,” Thurlow said. “She got away, got him right where we wanted him to be and got off (the rail) at just the right time.
“If he had had a worse run, he may have been vulnerable. But he will only improve from here. To do that second-up was a big effort, so we are rapt with him.”
Sutherland was also pleased with how the game plan had played out.
“We wanted to use the gate and not get too far back, but he just travelled along nicely with them,” she said. “We got a perfect run throughout and there is a lot of improvement in him.”
The race proved a triumph for Humphrey and Fiona O’Leary, the owners of Whangaehu, who took out the race for a second consecutive occasion after their classy mare Kelly Coe (NZ) (Proisir) saluted in 2023.
Bred by the couple, Whangaehu is out of their Pins mare Pinot Grieve (NZ) who won on four occasions and comes from a family that includes quality stayers Thorn Prince (NZ) (Thorn Park), Alinko Prince (NZ) (Alamosa) and My Bentley (NZ) (I Conquer).
Whangaehu has now won seven of his 30 stars and over $271,000 in prizemoney.
