Lightly-tried three-year-old Hennessy Lad (NZ) (Belardo) has continued the winning run for syndicator Wylie Dalziel when successful at Sandown on Saturday in the Robert Hunter Handicap (1800m).
The Peter Moody-trained son of Belardo narrowly got the better of Acosta (Snitzel) under a well-judged Carleen Hefel ride to advance his career record to three wins form five starts.
Dalziel Racing enjoyed a late January hot-streak that included four winners in the space of 24 hours including metropolitan winners Pounding (Exceed and Excel), Red Hot Nicc (Nicconi) and Dance To Dubai (Pride of Dubai) plus Camperdown Cup winner Riot And Rose (NZ) (Pins).
“It goes in waves and we will enjoy it while it is there. We had a couple of unlucky runners in between, but you have got to work hard,” Dalziel said.
“This was a horse we bought in New Zealand for only $80,000 and he has really repaid us and the owners that follow us with these New Zealand horses have jumped in and they are having a great day.
“It was a really good win and good ride by Carleen. I didn’t think she was going to get him there but he really knuckled down over the last 100m and reeled them in.”
Dalziel admitted the 1800m was a query but now that he has ticked the box, it opens more options.
“Although he didn’t get out last start and he looked like he should have won the race (over 1600m at The Valley), you never know until you stretch him out and today he has got it beautifully,” Dalziel said.
“He runs 1800m nicely and he looks like he will get 2000m or 2400m and maybe a nicer race down the track beckons.”
Hennessy Lad was bred and sold by Trelawney Stud, knocked down for $80,000 at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales to Dalziel and Peter Moody in conjunction with Bloodstock Agent John White.
Out of the Zabeel mare Lillet (NZ), a daughter of Group One winner Pernod (NZ) (Centaine), a half-brother to Hennessy Lad by Tivaci fetched $380,000 at last year’s Karaka Sales to the bid of Kevin Walls.