Racing: Wahid too brave, too good

Leith Innes sat quietly in the jockeys room at Ellerslie yesterday knowing that he has the 3-Year-Old every rival wants to ride in the $600,000 Mercedes Derby.

Innes and glamour 3-Year-Old Wahid combined to score a gallant front running victory in the $100,000 (Group Two) Mercedes Championship Stakes.

The victory cemented Wahid's claim as outright favourite for the Mercedes Derby at Ellerslie in two weeks time.

Wahid overcame a wide barrier 11 draw to cross his rivals easily at the start of the 2000 metre event and set solid lead sectional times.

Despite drifting outwards off the rail in the home stretch Wahid showed his stamina and class to score a short neck victory over the fast-closing Black Panther.

A further long head away in third position was Twinkling.

All honours were with Wahid as he burnt plenty of early petrol to cross the opposition to race keenly in front during the early stages.

This victory followed a similar last-start performance when Wahid employed front-running tactics to win the Waikato Guineas at Te Rapa.

"Wahid has that early speed out of the gates which is important because if we draw wide in the [Mercedes] Derby he has the ability to overcome that problem," said Innes after the race.

"A few smart 3-Year-Olds are now starting to appear with the Derby a few weeks away but I know my horse is good enough to make his own luck.

"I'm still adamant that we were unlucky to lose the Trentham Stakes with this horse two starts ago.

"I was pretty upset with the matter and then I received a suspension and it's pleasing to come back from suspension and win a Group Two race with this horse."

The Derby will be run over the longer distance of 2400 metres but Innes and trainer Allan Sharrock are adamant that Wahid will have no problems coping with the additional 400 metres.

Wahid has compiled an impressive career record under the guidance of New Plymouth-based Sharrock scoring eight wins and six minor placings from 15 starts.

Black Panther recorded an impressive performance finishing second after working clear of traffic problems midway down the home stretch and sprinting powerfully over the closing 100 metres.

Twinkling, the only filly entered in the event, was another runner closing quickly at the finish and is now exempt from ballot from the Derby.

One runner who had a good look at the outside rail at Ellerslie was the sixth placed Charliehorse.

The Lance O'Sullivan-trained runner ran outwards badly in the home stretch and if he had managed to run in a straight line there is no doubt he would have finished a lot closer to the winner.

Despite his erratic racing manners Charliehorse finished only three lengths from the winner and O'Sullivan has two weeks to teach his star to run in a straight line on a right-handed track.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY