Corey Campbell knows his way around Wingatui Racecourse and the local hoop added another four winners to his formidable record at the track on Saturday.
The 23-year-old achieved his first winning quartet at Wingatui over six years ago on Melbourne Cup Day, including three for his long-time employers Brian and Shane Anderton. The combination were to the fore again on this occasion, taking out the feature WAE Waikouaiti Cup (2200m) with Mayor Of Norwood (NZ) (Ghibellines).
A son of White Robe Lodge sire Ghibellines, Mayor Of Norwood was the $3.50 favourite for the Cup and duly delivered, with Campbell noting the gelding appreciated the fast tempo set mid-race by Humbucker.
“He’s a horse we’ve always had a high opinion of, he’s just been a victim of race tempo and things like that in his last few starts,” he said. “Yesterday, they ran along at a good clip and he got to sit in behind them, and he finished off really well.”
Mayor Of Norwood comes from a prolific White Robe family, which includes Gr.1 Metropolitan (2400m) winner Patrick Erin and the gelding’s older full-brother Capo Dell Impero, of whom Campbell has also partnered to four wins.
“Capo possibly has a bit more brilliance than Mayor Of Norwood, but he’s got something about him as well that could be very special,” he said.
A gear change was the key to Campbell’s victory on Anderton stablemate Patraine (NZ) (Almanzor), who bounced back into winning form in the Meenan’s Liquorland and Otago Tyres (1600m).
“She’s a mare we have held in high regard, but in her first few runs this time around, she’s laboured a little bit, so we put the blinkers on and hopefully that would sharpen her up,” he said. “They seemed to do so, she finished off well and got the job done.”
Campbell bookended the program with victories aboard Vadara (NZ) (Vadamos) and Quintabelle (NZ) (Embellish), the first of those coming aboard the Amber Hoffman-trained galloper who broke her maiden comfortably in the Rural Merchants Palmerston (1600m).
“Vadara is a horse that’s had a few issues, but she was really good on Boxing Day on the wet track and she’s improved a lot,” he said. “Being back on a better surface, that really suited her and she’s won very well.”
Vadara was part of a winning double for Hoffman, while Riccarton trainer Anna Furlong also collected two wins on the card in each of the ODT Southern Mile Qualifying races. A four-year-old by Embellish, Quintabelle producing a storming finish from the back of the field to take out the Rating 75 contest, earning plenty of praise from Campbell.
“She was very impressive, we got a nice draw but we ended up getting shuffled back a long way,” Campbell said. “When she presented, she really finished off well and I think she’s a horse with a lot ahead of her.”
Saturday’s haul brought Campbell’s overall Wingatui record to 65, while he is also swiftly closing in on a century with the Andertons, sitting at 88.
“Wingatui is a very fair track, every horse gets their opportunity,” he said. “You can be in front or come from the back, it suits every horse.
“It’s very rewarding (riding winners for the Andertons), I’ve been there for about 10 years and I’m very lucky to ride all of their very nice horses, it’s a privilege.”
Wingatui’s biggest day on the calendar is fast-approaching on March 1, with Property Brokers Otago Classics Day featuring the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge Weight For Age (1600m), Listed Positive Signs and Print Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) and Listed Property Brokers Dunedin Guineas (1600m).
Campbell hopes to feature prominently again at the meeting, identifying one of the Anderton’s well-performed gallopers as one to watch out for.
“I’m looking forward to getting Bauble back at the races, he had a jump-out last week and has come up really well,” he said.
“He won three last year and I think he’s a horse that can step up and make it in open company.”
