News

Well backed Stamina completes the task

31st Aug 2013

Thoroughbred News - Rob Burnet - Saturday, 31 August 2013

The Peter Moody trained Stamina was well backed in early markets for the $85,000, Rosehill Gardens Bm 75 Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday from $7.50 into $4.00 on TAB Fixed Odds, and while the colt completed the task under Josh Parr it was a late surge that had his supporters on edge until the final stride.

Stamina (55kg) did not break well from the barriers and Parr took his time in settling him while Bullpoint (59kg) and Glyn Schofield went forward for the lead with Good Job Bro (57.5kg) and Jason Collett in close attendance.

Schofield backed off the speed through the middle sections and the ripple effect back through the field shuffled Stamina back to last as they started the final turn.

Bullpoint had a 1L lead at the 300m and looked in control. Jim Cassidy on Savvy Nature (NZ) (54kg) went for a rails run shutting out Parr who had sent Stamina for a similar move. It was not until the 200m that Parr found racing room after switching back around the heels of Savvy Nature and then Bullpoint.

Savvy Nature’s move finished with a 1/2L advantage still to Bullpoint, but it was Stamina outside who was the serious challenge to the leader and with 100m to run the colt had flattened out well for his run.

It took until the final stride to reach Bullpoint (Fastnet Rock), but Stamina made it the telling stride with a short half-head margin to give the many supporters their success. There was a brief wait for the photofinish to confirm the win and there was a loud cheer from the stands when Stamina’s number four was called.

Savvy Nature (Savabeel) and Cassidy stayed on well for third, the margin 1/2L,

The time was 1.23.75 on the Good 3 track with the final 600m in 34.35. Stamina paid $4.30 on NSW TAB.

“It was a huge run after being held up. And he needs to build his momentum this horse so a great turn of foot,” said Clare Cunningham, Sydney foreperson for Moody.

“Missing the kick was not too bad and the plan was not to be too far forward, as long as he had the room which he did not have, but his turn of foot picked them up.

“He just got there but he is a great horse. I think we are hoping for the Newcastle Spring Stakes now,” she added.

Cunningham also paid tribute to the stable staff who had just completed a busy week packing up their Rosehill stables for a shift to 24 boxes at Randwick.

The $150,000, Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle is on September18th as part of the two-day Newcastle Spring Carnival.

“I thought I had won when we went past the post, but round pulling up I heard the crowd let off a big roar and I thought ‘oh no that does not sound good’,” said Parr.

“He came out of the barriers really relaxed and not in gear at all. When they went really quick for the first part I was quite pleased then they backed off to a ridiculous speed and we walked from the 1000m to the corner.

“They let rip from there and I had a lap full of horse and it was just a matter of finding clear running for him. I have a lot of time for him,” he said.

Glyn Schofield commented that when he took a clear lead at the top of the straight he thought he was the winner.

“He just found one too good on the day,” he said.

Stamina, by Sebring out of the Take Risks mare Sky Risks, had won at Kembla Grange over 1300m on June 18th and he then followed that up with two second places, the last at Randwick over 1600m on July 27th.

Stamina was purchased by Peter Moody for $100,000 from the draft of Rheinwood Pastoral at the 2012 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

He is owned by Leicester Park Stud, Rheinwood Pastoral Co, Mr J G Crane, Mr S J Chapman, Mr G A Solomon, Mr R D Solomon, Mr M J Davidson, Mr C K Mayfield, Mr W J Peterson, and Hardway Bloodstock and his stakes increased to $90,375 plus a BOBS bonus on Saturday of $20,000.