Shepherd’s Delight goes wire to wire in Wairio Cup

[Wandering Eyes]

By Jonny Turner 

Craig Ferguson was taking none of the credit after his perfectly judged front-running drive helped Shepherd’s Delight win yesterday’s Otautau Four Square Wairio Cup.

The pacer was in front from the second the standing start tapes were released in the Winton feature, with Ferguson judging the pace to perfection behind the Ivan Court trained five-year-old.

Though he clearly got his mid-race calculations spot on, Ferguson was quick to hand the credit for the win to Court.

The Canterbury trainer is known for producing brilliant standing start horses, and Shepherd’s Delight showed he was exactly that in the biggest win of his career.

“The credit really needs to go to Ivan,” Ferguson said. 

“All his horses can begin super and this fellow today, that is what won him the race.”

“He made such a great beginning and we were able to roll along and make them chase.”

Ferguson ran even times in the lead, setting a big task for the backmarkers and favourites Miraculous and Built For Glory to chase him down.

Miraculous got close to Shepherd’s Delight in the home straight, before the winner dug in bravely when challenged. 

“I just had to make sure that I went quick enough that they had to do a bit of work to chase me, but not too quick so that I still had plenty at the finish,” Ferguson said. 

“When we ramped it up he still had plenty in store, he went super.”

Court produced a perfect two-from-two on Wairio Cup Day with Bondi Lustre also running to victory.

The mare also dug in late to score, handing driver Tim Williams his 900th win in the sulky in New Zealand.

Williams was only stuck on 899 wins for a week, but he was eager to chase down his milestone victory.  

“It is a massive thrill, obviously glad to get there, I have had a few placings the last wee bit.”

“But it is nice to get it across the line today.”

Williams finished Wairio Cup Day on 902 New Zealand wins after enjoying feature race victories with both B D Hall in Sunday’s Gold Chip Final and Sweet Diamond in heat one of the Southern Belle Speed Series. 

There were few more satisfied trainers than Nathan Williamson after Hidden Talent’s win in Sunday’s feature trot.

The mare hinted she was on her way back to her best for with a last-start victory at Riverton.

When the six-year-old charged home from a tricky spot before the home turn at Winton, it confirmed to Williamson that Hidden Talent was right back to where she needed to be.

“We had to do some soul-searching there for a while, the ability was never in question,” the trainer-driver said. 

“She has been working as good as ever all season, it has just been a matter of getting everything else right.”

“Today she was really happy.”

Williamson also won with the Brett Gray trained Always Ticking at yesterday’s Wairio Cup meeting. 

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