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Sakhee’s Soldier delivers once again at Ellerslie

3 minute read

Cambridge galloper Sakhee’s Soldier continued on his winning way when he displayed all his fighting qualities to score narrowly in the Gr. 2 Rich Hill Mile at Ellerslie.

Sakhee's Soldier winning the Rich Hill Mile
Sakhee's Soldier winning the Rich Hill Mile Picture: Trish Dunell

The tenacious four-year-old gelding scored in rating 75 company at Te Awamutu in late October and hasn’t taken a backwards step since with his latest win making it five in a row and seven in total from just 13 career starts.

Despite the impeccable run of form, punters were happy to bet against another win for the son of Sakhee's Secret as they sent him out the 4th favourite in a quality line-up befitting the status of the race.

“He really is a super galloper this guy,” said co-trainer Murray Baker immediately after the race.

“He hasn’t stopped improving all the way through and he is such a kind and well-mannered horse, just a delight to do anything with.

“That was an enormous performance today as he was wide early in the race and then really fought hard in the straight to get the win.”

Last season’s champion jockey Matt Cameron settled the gelding in midfield early in the race but was trapped three wide for a good distance as outsider Jubilate set a moderate pace in front.

Cameron got cover for his mount with about 600 metres to run and issued his challenge as the widest runner on the home bend as he set out after stablemate Diademe and Kisses who were duelling in front.

Knuckling down to the challenge Sakhee’s Soldier thrust his nose in front on the line to deny Kisses who fought bravely for another minor placing at stakes level, her third from her last six starts. Last year’s New Zealand Derby winner Puccini made good ground in the run home to nab third from a game Diademe as the winner clocked a smart 1.34.49 for the 1600 metre journey.

Baker was delighted for the gelding’s Melbourne based owners after securing the horse in a private sale from breeder The Oaks Stud.

“They are a good bunch of guys and it’s a great result for them,” he said. “I guess the only downside is that he just doesn’t go anywhere near as good the left-handed way around so I’m not sure if they will get to see him race on their home turf.”

Baker was undecided on the gelding’s immediate programme, preferring to let the dust settle on this win before making any decisions.

“I think he is still getting better and I don’t think he will mind going a wee bit further yet,” he said.

“The way he relaxes I don’t see running him over 2000 metres as a problem but we won’t be making any decisions until he’s had a few days at home and we see how he comes through the race.


NZ Racing News

Ellerslie

Thursday, 01st January 2015

7
17:15
(local)

Rich Hill Mile (G2)

WT: 52kg Type: OPEN
NZD $100,000
1600m TURF GOOD
7
17:15
(local)
NZD $100,000
1600m GOOD

Rich Hill Mile (G2)

WT: 52kg Type: OPEN

This G2 mile under handicap conditions saw a lot of next uppers and also some tactical nous by riders that left a lot to be desired. The meteoric rise by Sakhee’s Soldier continued as he won by a nose and it was his fifth victory in a row this season. He could have won fresh up but for a poor Matthew Cameron ride when third so should in fact be on a six-win streak as a 4yo. The race was won when after being trapped wide early sixth Cameron could not get in and looked to be in trouble only to get let in eighth the outer and one off amazingly at the 1000m. The rider of Spin Doctor in Rory Hutchings should have kept Sakhee’s Soldier wide and to let him in defies belief as it was a G2 event. The winning time was 1:34.49 so the pace was at least reasonable but when rivals are not kept wide then the point of Group racing is surely lost. The runner up Kisses sat closer the outer and was nutted the last stride. She seems to not like a photo finish as this season alone was beaten a lip into second at G3 in the spring and also was second defeated by a head fresh up. Puccini, who beat Kisses a nose in that G3 at Trentham, ran on well for third and being settled back helped but also the race pace was not a dawdle. Diademe fought ever so hard after trailing and then taking the lead early the run home. She lost third money and a G3 placing for her broodmare dance card on the post. To Be Sure fought on after being blocked early the run home and this once thought of sprinter only may well manage the mile. Waikaha ran well and can cope it seems clockwise but is at her best left-handed for sure. Candle In The Wind was an eyecatcher after an ordinary ride and is a winner in waiting. Atacama the favourite never looked a hope after being tardy and settling in the rear trio. Kaleidoscope was not too bad late down the outer and Capone found the line too so both can be backed with confidence next time out. Jubilate led and stopped so surely needs to be ridden with cover from now on to be a dividend paying chance. Spin Doctor was an absurd tactical ride and Costume was appalling and motherhood awaits. The Last Shower was wide then worked up outside the leader and stopped badly so like Jubilate needs to be ridden quieter to pay a dividend. Lots of next up wagers from the race as so many tactical blunders and hard luck stories plus some in this were sprinters and others middle distance types.



FP Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 6. SAKHEE'S SOLDIER (NZ) 4yo G
SAKHEE'S SECRET (GB) - SURREPTITIOUSLY (GB)
MATTHEW CAMERON
MURRAY BAKER & ANDREW FORSMAN
$7.1
55kg
N L Egan,j B Egan, S D Egan, A P Egan, G A Lamperd & Miss L Burke

Sales Information

2nd 9. KISSES (NZ) 5yo M
IFFRAAJ (GB) - LA MARMALADE (AUS)
TRUDY THORNTON
MARK FRASER-CAMPIN & CHRIS CAMPIN
$18.7
52kg
Chequers N.Z. Ltd

Sales Information

3rd 2. PUCCINI (NZ) 4yo H
ENCOSTA DE LAGO (AUS) - OUR MISS OPERA (NZ)
JONATHAN RIDDELL
PETER MCKAY
$5.2
58.5kg
Monovale Holdings Syndicate
4th 4. DIADEME (NZ) 6yo M
SAVABEEL (AUS) - BLING (NZ)
OPIE BOSSON
MURRAY BAKER & ANDREW FORSMAN
$5.6
57kg

Sales Information

5th 13. TO BE SURE (NZ) 5yo G
PATAPAN (USA) - O'REALLY IMPULSIVE (NZ)
SAMANTHA COLLETT
DONNA & DEAN LOGAN
$37.4
52kg

Sales Information

6th 14. WAIKAHA (NZ) 5yo M
TOWKAY (AUS) - HARINUI (NZ)
MICHAEL DEE
DAVID & EMMA HAWORTH
$13.1
52kg
7th 10. CANDLE IN THE WIND (NZ) 5yo M
DARCI BRAHMA (NZ) - PREFER BLONDES (USA)
KELLY MYERS
DONNA & DEAN LOGAN
$26.3
52kg

Sales Information

8th 7. ATACAMA (NZ) 5yo M
PENTIRE (GB) - ALMAVIVA (NZ)
JAMES MCDONALD
SHAUNE RITCHIE
$4.6
54.5kg
9th 11. KALEIDOSCOPE (NZ) 6yo M
PINS (AUS) - ARLETTY (NZ)
MARK DU PLESSIS
LANCE O'SULLIVAN & ANDREW SCOTT
$10.3
52kg
10th 8. CAPONE (NZ) 8yo G
AL AKBAR (AUS) - GOOD HEARTED (NZ)
CRAIG GRYLLS
DANICA GUY
$58.5
53kg

Sales Information

11th 5. JUBILATE (NZ) 6yo G
FALKIRK (NZ) - DUTOWIN (NZ)
NOEL HARRIS
GRAHAM RICHARDSON
$39.6
55.5kg

Sales Information

12th 1. SPIN DOCTOR (NZ) 7yo G
PINS (AUS) - LOVE THE LIMELIGHT (NZ)
RORY HUTCHINGS
STEPHEN MCKEE
$29.2
59kg

Sales Information

13th 15. ZAH GIRL (NZ) 6yo M
KEEPER (AUS) - SATIN PILLOWS (USA)
SAM SPRATT
SEAN CAMERON
$71
52kg

Sales Information

14th 3. COSTUME (NZ) 5yo M
SAVABEEL (AUS) - DISGUISED (NZ)
MICHAEL COLEMAN
GRAEME & DEBBIE ROGERSON
$19.5
57.5kg

Sales Information

15th 12. THE LAST SHOWER (NZ) 5yo M
CECCONI (AUS) - SOLAR SHOWER (AUS)
DANIELLE JOHNSON
MICHAEL MORONEY & ANDREW CLARKEN
$34.9
52kg

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