Racing: Versatile stayer delivers ahead of Kiwifruit Cup

It was mission accomplished for trainer Davina Waddell and her promising stayer All's Well at Ellerslie yesterday.

The 5-year-old over-powered his rivals to take out the $30,000 Open Handicap in the hands of apprentice jockey Kate Hercock.

All's Well scored by two and a quarter lengths over Ben Sparta with a further three quarters of a length back to Bank Note (third).

Waddell has always thought well of the gelding that can compete and win on any racetrack from rock hard to yesterday's heavy.

"I'm looking at the Kiwifruit Cup at Tauranga, then long term I'd like to have another crack at the Avondale Cup with him," said Waddell.

All's Well was unlucky in last year's Avondale Cup when pulling a shoe.

"I'll keep him ticking over in the stable during the winter because he is a horse that does better condition wise when he's in a stable as opposed to sitting out in a paddock.

"He can race on any type of track and he's a very good stayer and the Avondale Cup is a race I'd really like to win with him because it's on our home track."

All's Well will clash with the second placed Ben Sparta in the Kiwifruit Cup at Tauranga.

Kate Hercock signed off her apprenticeship in winning style taking out a feature event.

Although All's Well can handle varied track conditions, he has shown his strength in heavy going - three wins and a second placing from four starts.

ROSS ELLIOT was on the "afternoon shift" and not on course to see Dondinello win.

The Cambridge trainer missed the opening race and travelled later with stable runner Jaws.

Dondinello made amends for a disappointing last-start performance in the Waikato Hurdles with an effortless jumping display to win the $27,500 C. D. S Electrical Hurdle.

The 6-year-old pounced quickly on the leaders before the home turn and lengthened stride impressively to clear out and win by seven lengths over Aircraft with a further two lengths back to Survey (third).

"I was really disappointed in his last-start effort in the Waikato Hurdles as he won so well fresh-up and I was expecting a top effort," said Elliot.

"But he did hit that second fence really hard in the Waikato Hurdles and the second-up theory may have also contributed to the performance.

"His work since the race at Te Rapa has been faultless and I did think he'd go very well today at Ellerslie.

"On a track with a bit more room to stretch out I did expect a better performance. I haven't got any set plans for him this season and the encouraging thing is that he's back in winning form."

COMMAND PERFORMANCE made the best possible start to a new career as a steeplechaser.

Trainer John Wheeler was in Brisbane and he had little to worry about with the 7-year-old.

Command Performance easily gathered Just The Man, who appeared to have the field in trouble when kicking clear of the opposition with 600 metres remaining. But Command Performance drew clear in the closing 100 metres to beat Just The Man by 4 1/4 lengths. A further three lengths away in third place was Yelsid Junior.

The 4150 metres was a survival of the fittest as the winning time was 5.08.75.

Wheeler is a master at educating and conditioning jumping horses and switching the gelding from hurdling to steeplechasing has proved successful.

Command Performance saved ground on the home turn by improving along the inside while other runners switched wide in search of better footing.

Murray Baker is a big fan of Howbaddouwantit's progeny.

His 2-year-old filly I'm Insatiable scored a stunning debut victory at Ellerslie, despite running outwards in the home stretch and making brief contact with the third placed Johnnie Yetton.

"This filly has always shown me a lot of promise and I gave her two trial runs before her race debut today and she finished third and first," said Baker.

"She's a good staying filly and her dam [Valentine Girl] was a listed stakes winner and defeated Rough Habit in the Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa.

Baker has had a sensational season posting 46 wins from his Cambridge base and has not dismissed the possibility of breaking the 50-win barrier before July 31.

I'm Insatiable won by a length over Filly Milly with a further 1 1/4 lengths back to Johnnie Yetton.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY