News

Metal Bender takes his prizemoney to $1.9million

7th Apr 2012

Talented, yet unlucky galloper Metal Bender almost brought champion trainer Chris Waller to tears at Rosehill on Saturday, after the six-year-old took his earnings to $1.9million with victory in the Group One ATC George Ryder Stakes over 1500m.

Metal Bender ($160,000 2007 Easter, 6g Danasinga-Jacqwin) was positioned midfield on the rail by top jockey Michael Rodd and although the fence was considered ‘off’ by many the gelding found the going to his liking scooting along the inside to a hard fought win over Rekindled Interest and Secret Admirer.

“It’s just an amazing performance, it’s a big effort for a horse who has been off for such a long time,” Waller said after the win.

Purchased by the late Jack Denham as an Easter yearling, Metal Bender has well and truly tested the patience of owner David Fuller during his career, which has now netted four Group One wins.

The son of Danasinga won the Randwick and Rosehill Guineas as three-year-old under Denham’s care, before Waller prepared him to glory in the Doomben Cup in 2010, after which came a spate of career threatening injuries.

Metal Bender incurred a mandatory three-month ban after bleeding in the Mackinnon Stakes in the spring of 2010 then had to have another year on the sidelines after bowing a tendon when on the comeback trail.

Today’s win came at only his second start since February last year, following an impressive third behind More Joyous first-up in the Group Two ATC Canterbury Stakes on March 24.

The $160,000 Easter graduate now has nine wins and five placings from 22 starts and $1,893,850 in career earnings.

The honour roll of George Ryder Stakes is littered with champion gallopers such as Manikato, Emancipation, Lonhro, Haradasun, Weekend Hussler and Racing To Win, which was a $40,000 bargain purchase from the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale that went on to earn $3.75million on the track.

Metal Bender has been allocated equal third top weight of 57.5kgs for the $2million Doncaster Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on April 21, but Waller advised that the galloper would likely be set for either the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) or $400,000 All Aged Stakes (1400m) on April 28.

Leading New Zealand nursery Waikato Stud, who bred Metal Bender and sold him from their Easter Sale draft in 2007, will offer six yearlings at next week’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale on April 10, 11 and 12.

Flying Snitzel claims Group Three Schweppervesence

Flying Snitzel ($25,000 2011 Premier, 2f Snitzel-Hula Flight) had earlier got the day off to a great start for punters when the even money favourite scored in the newly upgraded Group Three Schweppervesence (1400m) for two-year-olds over Dear Demi and Strength.

Purchased by Triple Crown Syndications for just $25,000 from the draft of Bellerive Stud at the 2011 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale the daughter of Snitzel became the first stakes winner from Group One ATC Metropolitan winner Hula Flight.

Placed in the $250,000 Inglis Nursery behind Diamond Earth back in October the Gerald Ryan trained filly now has $142,550 in the bank for her connections thanks to two wins and two placings from five starts.

Flying Snitzel will attempt to join fellow Inglis yearling sale graduates Mentality and Onemorenomore from victory in the Schweppervescence (formerly known as the T L Baillieu Stakes) to Group One glory in the ATC Champagne Stakes (1600m), that will be run on Saturday April 28 this year.

“Right from last year, when she started, we knew that she was a 1400 or 1600-metre horse,” Gerald Ryan said after the win.

"The Champagne (Stakes) has always been her aim, whether she is good enough, we'll have to wait and see,” Ryan added.