Racing: What a Surprize, the luck goes her way

By MIKE DILLON

Kevin Hughes leaned against a concrete pillar in the birdcage at Te Aroha on Saturday, wiped sweat from his brow and took a huge drag on a cigarette.

Eighteen months ago he swore he'd never have another fag.

The sigh he let go was not a nicotine rush, it was mental relief.

Few knew what the win by Surprize Surprize in the $120,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Breeders' Stakes meant to the Takanini trainer.

And, as staunch as ever, Hughes wasn't about to let on.

This was not just his first group one win as a trainer, this was his first win for the season.

There was more to it than that - Surprize Surprize should have won two or three feature races.

The tears by Hughes and the mare's owner, Ports of Auckland CEO Geoff Vasey, told a story.

Asked how he felt, Hughes said: "You're supposed to say it's just another day at work, but this is better than being at work."

The ex-Gisborne boy had finally cracked it.

So, too, had Vasey, who got in to horse racing as a relaxing balance to his high-pressure employment.

The two are great mates. And perhaps that's not surprising - they are the same age to the day.

"Kevin agisted a couple of horses at my Ardmore property and came around home one day.

"He said it was his birthday in a couple of days and we discovered we were born on the same day - and we'd been buddies for a couple of years when we discovered that."

Vasey fell in love with racing and says he uses his property for R and R.

"I'm not your average corporate yuppie, I love mixing with racing people because of the wonderful cross-section of individuals.

"I love talking to the float drivers, the trainers, owners, they're down to earth people.

"Racing and my property are my gym. We've got a gym in our work building, but I'm not good at getting there."

On Hughes' recommendation, Vasey paid $35,000 for Surprize Surprise as a broodmare and with further encouragement from Hughes put the then filly in work.

Saturday's win took the bankroll to $203,775, but more importantly, the group one win that will guarantee her broodmare potential is now in the drawer.

But it could have even been better, which was Hughes' issue with the cigarette.

There has not been a more unlucky horse than Surprize Surprize in the last 12 months.

"She was unlucky it rained when she finished second to Sokool at Te Rapa - I thought she was a sitter that day.

"She never got a run in the King's Plate and should have won the Anniversary at Trentham.

"Then she got galloped on in the Thorndon Mile. She came from second last on the home turn and was still only two lengths from Sir Kinloch."

The potential for further disaster yesterday was enormous.

Grant Cooksley jumped the mare out fast from an outside barrier, but when he saw eventual leader Diamond Like and Penny Gem jump just as fast from inside gates, he dragged the mare back to the tail of the field and decided to ride for luck.

On the day when it really mattered, luck held.

Cooksley angled back to the inside rail in the home straight and a gap big enough for the citilink bus presented itself.

Diamond Like still looked home though and it took enormous determination by Surprize Surprize to grab the narrow win in the last few strides.

Cooksley was acutely aware of how much luck he'd used up.

"If we'd had to go around one horse she couldn't have won."

Leith Innes on Diamond Like thought it was his lucky day - until the 100m.

"She was cruising when we pinched a break in the home straight.

"I was sure she had it won and had it been anyone else but Grant Cooksley on the other horse she would have."