Trainer Barry Cooke had already identified the race for six-year-old mare Valenciano during the forthcoming Darwin Cup Carnival.
It was going to be the $30,000 Rose Bowl (1300m) for the fillies and mares at a 0-70 level on July 13.
Valenciano finished strongly to finish third behind impressive duo Addictions and Mini Boom in the Queen of the Desert (1200m) at 0-76 level on April 29 – the feature event for fillies and mares during the Alice Springs Cup Carnival – after having not raced since February.
That was followed by a narrow win in the Denis Staunton Memorial Cup (1200m) against 0-70 opposition on Tennant Creek Cup Day on May 14.
Starting as an $8 chance with online bookmakers in the Pioneer Park Anniversary Cup 0-76 (1400m) in Alice Springs on Sunday, Valenciano (Sonja Wiseman) produced arguably her best career effort with a slashing victory.
And Darwin-based Wiseman proved what an up and coming star she is fast becoming in the Northern Territory with a truly exceptional riding performance.
Settling at the tail of the field early and clearly last in the seven-horse field turning for home, Valenciano missed out on a rails run before storming home down the outside to seal the narrowest of wins.
As a consequence the Rose Bowl is out of the question as she now has a rating of 75.
Cooke is now focusing on the $50,000 Bridge Toyota Cup 0-76 (1600m) on July 13.
“They’ve slapped me with 10 points,” Cooke said.
“She’s out of the Rose Bowl, which I had her lined up for.
“I’m now looking at the Bridge Toyota Cup.
“She’ll get the distance, no worries at all – she’s fit enough now.”
Valenciano is humming at the moment, and although she has had her injury concerns in the past Cooke is adamant that the mare runs well fresh.
Jumping from the inside gate on Sunday – after starting from the outside gate (9) in the Queen of the Desert – Valenciano was travelling nicely before the pressure began to mount.
Approaching the home turn near the 400m mark she was building momentum, but that gap along the rails failed to materialise and it appeared as though her race was over.
Once turning for home, Wiseman had no option but go wide and even at that point it didn’t seem possible that Valenciano could bridge the gap.
In the straight, Will Savage’s Masaru Warrior (Casey Hunter), a $7.50 hope, took over from Russell Bell’s Wayanka (Sairyn Fawke), a $6.50 hope, as leader before the back-markers swooped.
Terry Gillett’s $2.30 favourite Supreme Times (Stan Tsaikos) produced what appeared to be a winning burst, but Carrol Hunter’s $7.50 chance Exonerate (Wayne Davis) was making a move along the rails.
Gillett’s Valley Prince (Paul Denton), starting at $9.50, then made his move on the outside and with Valenciano working through the gears there were four horses across the track with 50m to go.
Valenciano prevailed from Valley Prince, who bounced back to form after a lean period, with Supreme Times, who won four straight from February-April, finishing inside his stablemate to seal third place.
Exonerate failed to finish the Tennant Creek Cup (1600m) on May 14, but ended up finishing fourth along the rails with less than a length separating the first four.
Significantly, the first four also started from barriers one, two, three and four, respectively.
“It was a big win, it was a big run by the mare,” Cooke added.
“Sonja rode her to a treat – just like I told her.
“You can’t bustle her at all.
“You’ve just got to sit down and chill – dictate the race when she wants to be in the race.
“She did get a bit back – that had me a little bit worried.
“But down the straight when she got a fair run I knew she’d run on all right.
“She had to come out wide, but that’s alright because it meant that she didn’t have a stop start run.
“She got all free running out there, which she doesn’t mind.”
Just like the Queen of the Desert, Valenciano was coming home at the rate of knots on Sunday – but would she get there on this occasion.
“She covered a bit of ground,” Cooke said.
“I could see her coming, I was screaming for her.
“I thought she could have run a place and didn’t know if she got over the line or not, but it’s good.
“That’s her toughest win, that’s also her best win.”
Valenciano faced decent opposition on Sunday and according to Cooke she has gone to the next level.
He added that the mare, who has only raced four times this year, wouldn’t run again until she gets to Darwin.
“Always keep her fresh – that’s what I’ve found to be the best way,” he said.
“She’ll have the fitness when she gets to Darwin.”
And that if she runs well in the Bridge Toyota Cup he might start her in the $200,000 Great Northern Darwin Cup (2050m) on August 1.
“Why not?” he said.
This time last year no one had heard of the Nicole Irwin-trained Highly Decorated before the South Australian gelding arrived in the Top End to win seven straight races, including the Darwin Cup.
2022 Pioneer Park Anniversary Cup result
| Horse (barrier) | Jockey (kg) | Trainer | SP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | #4 Valenciano (1) | Sonja Wiseman (55) | Barry Cooke | $8 |
| 2nd | #3 Valley Prince (2) | Paul Denton (58) | Terry Gillett | $9.50 |
| 3rd | #2 Supreme Times (3) | Stan Tsaikos (58.5) | Terry Gillett | $2.30F |
Margins: 0.2L x 0.2L
Time: 1,23.61 (Last 600m – 36.56)
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