Whangaehu chasing Hawke’s Bay Cup success

[Wandering Eyes]

Whangaehu will contest Saturday’s Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) at Trentham. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

Whangaehu proved himself up to the country’s top middle-distance gallopers over the summer and he’ll aim to complete a top campaign at Trentham in Saturday’s Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m).

The talented six-year-old kicked off his hot streak winning the Listed Wanganui Cup (2040m) and Group 3 Trentham Stakes (2100m) before making a serious impression with top-four finishes in the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and Group 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) behind Hong Kong-bound El Vencedor.

After a string of standout efforts, it looked to be his time to shine in last month’s Group 2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m), but after getting back early and staying on the rail into the straight, he searched for clear air until the closing stages and flashed home for fifth.

While the result wasn’t as his trainer Bill Thurlow had hoped, he acknowledged the efforts of Whangaehu’s jockey Craig Grylls in what has been a phenomenal season for the stable.

“The way it panned out for him, it just didn’t work out,” Thurlow said. “Normally Craig would get it right 19 times out of 20, and it just didn’t happen that day.

“We’ve had a lot of luck too and Craig has ridden some winners for us that probably wouldn’t have won without his decision-making, so it’s just the way it is.

“He’s still gone super and come through it well, the biggest worry now is the weight he’ll be giving away on Saturday. But it’s a last run for the season and there’s nothing else for him, so we’ll take a throw at the stumps and hopefully he can carry the weight and run the trip out.

“Hopefully he acquits himself well.”

As a 100-rated galloper, Whangaehu will carry a clear topweight in the $120,000 feature, with his closest rival a mare in Mehzebeen.

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