Cambridge mare Val Di Zoldo (NZ) (War Decree) bounced backed to winning form after a lengthy hiatus away from the top step of the podium as she took out the Gr.3 Intowin.co.nz Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2050m) in a desperate finish at Wanganui.
The Tony Pike-prepared daughter of War Decree had looked a filly of real quality during her two and three-year-old campaigns that saw her take out the Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m) amongst a number of fine performances.
However, it had been over two years since she saluted the judge in the Lowland Stakes and she broke that drought in fine fashion on Saturday with a display of real grit for rider Lily Sutherland.
Race favourite Our Jumala (NZ) (Zed) was allowed to set a farcically slow pace in front of her six rivals for the majority of the contest before things began to get serious with 600m to run. Sutherland had Val Di Zoldo sitting nicely in fourth and headed to the outskirts of the track turning for home where she joined Our Jumala, Royal Flower (NZ) (Proisir) and Khanshe (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) as that quartet set down to a torrid struggle.
Calling on all her reserves Val Di Zoldo rallied to thrust her head in front at just the right time to hold out a desperate finish from Nigella Lane (NZ) (Niagara), who dived through a narrow gap to snatch second from Royal Flower and Our Jumala who were almost in line for third.
Pike stable representative Miranda Duthie cut a relieved figure as she welcomed the five-year-old mare back to the winners’ enclosure.
“She has always had ability, but she has been unlucky and is probably the unluckiest mare in New Zealand,” Duthie said.
“She was unlucky in the Cuddle Stakes (Gr.3, 1600m) last time and in the Travis Stakes (Gr.2, 2000m) when Bill’s (Pinn) stirrup leather broke.
“I’m just so rapt for her owner and the sable as she is just one of the easiest horses to work with and she is one of my favourites.”
Bred by the late Kevin Hickman, Val Di Zoldo is raced by Robert and Kim De Courcy under their Kinsale Bloodstock banner after she was purchased for $285,000 by Bruce Sherwin out of the Valachi Downs Unreserved Young & Racing Stock Dispersal sale.
Her dam is the Thorn Park mare Civetta and amongst her extended family is the star performer Fun On The Run (NZ) (Racing is fun) who won 18 races with five at stakes level including the 1989 running of the Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes.
Val Di Zoldo has now won three of her 30 starts and just under $240,000 in prizemoney.