After the last two Wanganui Cup races were shut-outs, this year a very tight field saw All in Vogue come through to win a thriller on Saturday.
After the last two Wanganui Cup races were shut-outs, this year a very tight field saw All in Vogue come through to win a thriller on Saturday.
She couldn't hang on at the Waverley Cup, but a week later All In Vogue had the heart to kick on and take out the Cambridge Thoroughbred Lodge Wanganui Cup on a scorching Saturday afternoon.
The second favourite picked the right line in a competitive field for the $50,000 featureat the Christmas at the Races – a field made more equal by the split of talent between the Otaki Races being held the day before.
All In Vogue, trained out of Palmerston North by Waverley and Whanganui regular Kevin Gray, had come second at Waverley when she just got headed off in the finishing straight by Foxton's Balham, ridden by Rosie Myers.
Cambridge's Snow Secret (Brendan Hutton) had been made the favourite on a very dry track, which all but guaranteed the large waxings seen in the previous two Cup races would not occur and the punters were in for a dog-fight.
At a cantering pace to start, it was Balham leading on the first trip past the post, followed by Matamata's Hushed (Samantha Wynne) and Cambridge's Meeska Mooska (Anna Jones).
The group lined out in single file along the back stretch, as it was clear that unlike the 2015 and 2016 races – the latter held in June this year due to rain 12 months ago – it was going to be a street drag to the finish.
Coming around the corner, Meeska Mooska was still there, but All In Vogue jockey Leah Hemi had made her move, and it was Opaki's Blathwayt who was going with her on the inside rail, ironically being urged home by Gray's own talented apprentice jockey Holly Andrew.
But unlike in Waverley, this was a 2040m feature and with 200m less to cover, it was All In Vogue who had the grit to go through the middle a spread wide field and this time hang on to claim the Cup by a neck from Blathwayt, while Balham continued an outstanding run of form to get up for third by another half neck.
"I didn't know [we'd win], I thought that Holly was going to get up and beat us with the first one," said a relieved Gray, as Hemi brought the new Cup holder back to grandstand.
"She's a great little filly.
"Done us pretty well, sort of come right, we were taking our time with her.
"She's a little bit porky in the condition – nearly back to racing weight."
Considering himself a true local, for Gray the listed victory in the Wanganui Cup was a welcome tonic after just missing out up the road in South Taranaki.
"It makes it very valuable [to win] here."
Grinning jockey Leah Hemi brings All in Vogue back to the winner's circle at Wanganui Racecourse.
It was the 105th victory for horses owned by Peter McDonald and his wife Min McDonald of Stratford.
"She's a smart little mare, I don't think she's ever run a bad race on a good track," said Peter McDonald
"We would have loved to win the Waverley Cup, but Kevin said he wanted to win that before he retired, so hopefully we've got him for a few more years."
All In Vogue certainly has the pedigree as she was sired by Tall Poppy, the classy million dollar horse trained by Manawatu stalwart Noel Eales.
"She tries really hard and got there, she's a wonderful mare," said a tired by happy Hemi at the presentations.
Again, the Wanganui Jockey Club had a successful day, as they swiftly reached the $73,000 budget for on-course takings that had been set by the TAB.
"Very happy with that," said club operations manager Bret Field.
"We're pretty much on par, so we beat the TAB budget by Race 6.
"It's a good crowd, you just wonder where they are throughout the year."
The final on course turnover was $109,000, a consistent return for the club for an eight race card instead of their previous 9-11 race afternoons, while the off-course betting was $957,000.
Grinning jockey Leah Hemi brings All in Vogue back to the winner's circle at Wanganui Racecourse.
