Racing: The Jewel starts to shine again

The grey face of Hec Anderton in the birdcage on Saturday told the story.

Minutes before, class mare The Jewel had faced the crossroads of her life in the $100,000 Whakanui Stud International Stakes and was suddenly through to the other side and flying again.

A year in the doldrums meant the end of the road was near if The Jewel did not front up on Saturday.

"If she didn't come up today, she wasn't coming back," said Anderton, in no-nonsense Southern fashion.

The Wingatui trainer has lost count of the sleepless nights he's had with The Jewel, rated the equal of any of New Zealand's 3-year-olds two seasons back.

First, he lost the Queensland Oaks. The Jewel finished second after gross interference in the closing stages by the winner, who, in one of the worst judicial decisions ever, was allowed to keep the race.

Then a back injury sidelined her in Australia during her 4-year-old campaign.

A couple of minor wins in her home area in recent months hinted at a return to form. Placings in two starts at the Auckland Cup carnival looked okay, but the critics were divided.

From the time The Jewel walked into the parade ring on Saturday you suspected the real deal could be back.

After the race, Anderton admitted it was the best he's had The Jewel looking since her 3-year-old career.

He also admitted to the depth of his frustrations.

"I always knew she was up to this class, but we were starting to make too many excuses for her. But the back problems have been real and we are not over them yet."

Anderton said endless bouts of massage had assisted The Jewel.

He quickly wanted to change the subject to Leith Innes' ride.

"What a magnificent ride - Leith could not have ridden her better."

This victory meant much more than the significant stakemoney. For a start it has group one status and it opens up a range of unexpected options.

Anderton's initial reaction was Ellerslie on March 5 and the Darley Stakes, the original Air New Zealand Stakes.

But there is Australia. In Sydney there is the A$400,000 Ranvet Stakes and A$2 million BMW and in Melbourne the Australian Cup.

The back trouble will not leave Anderton's mind.

"If it continues the way it is, it will probably prevent us from going to Australia."

Innes is booked to leave for his contract in Hong Kong on March 6, the day after the Ellerslie meeting, and says he would be available for the ride on The Jewel if that is the path the connections chose.

"She was trotting at the 600m. I had a look around me and the rest were struggling. I didn't want to take off as early as I did, but she just ran herself into the race."

The Jewel was always going to win in the home straight, but Distinctly Secret fought so determinedly he was only threequarters of a length away.

The favourite Lashed was a neck back third, rider Vinny Colgan declaring himself a good thing beaten.

"She got back on the rails and I couldn't get her out. That's just the natural way she races and I couldn't do anything about it."

Love flowed when Sedecrem won the $100,000 Waikato Draught Sprint.

Love from the owners, but more importantly from co-trainer Colin Jillings and partner Richard Yuill.

Jillings has a number of quotes he likes repeating in racing, but in the top two favourites is: "If you give love, you get it back."

He talks about horses. Jillings reckons the love he says Sedecrem has been given reflects in the results.

Sedecrem stormed down the outside with a finish that has characterised many of his races, but has not always resulted in victory. He has been New Zealand's unluckiest horse, but not on Saturday.

Andrew Calder hooked Sedecrem to the outside in the home straight and he fair swamped the opposition.

Richard Otto produced former Australian-based Lamond into the race and was one of the first to grab Jillings.

He said: "I thought we had got home, but your horse is just too good."

The Jillings/Yuill partnership is about to come to an end with Jillings' retirement in two weeks.

His only involvement will be taking 3-year-old Cheval De Troy to Sydney for the autumn carnival, which will begin with the A$400,000 Canterbury Guineas on Saturday week.

Favourite King's Chapel finished 2.8 lengths away in fifth place and rider Hayden Tinsley warned not to be too disappointed with the effort.

"He's a horse you need to know a fair bit about. I gave him a dig out of the gates and he clearly told me he was not going to be bustled."

King's Chapel got back in the small field and Tinsley said he gave him the feel he was used to open spaces.

"You watch all the times he has really sprinted in his races and it's always been when he's in the clear.

"It wasn't until he was in the open that he really charged this time."

Tinsley was impressed with the way King's Chapel accelerated in the closing stages.

"The more you know about him the easier he is to ride. I'd look forward to riding him next time."

Premier day

* Southern mare The Jewel's star rises again after she takes out the Whakanui Stud International Stakes.

* After a rough race Tusker wins the Sir Tristram Classic.

* Sedecrem makes it back-to-back Waikato Draught Sprint victories.