Sotirio takes Sprint final in thrilling finish

[Wandering Eyes]

Hardy winter galloper Sotirio (NZ) (Wrote) produced the performance of his career to date as he thrust his nose in front at just the right moment to capture the feature short course event at Trentham on Saturday, the Australian Turf Club Autumn Sprint Final (1200m).

Unsighted on raceday since finishing 3^rd on a Heavy 10 surface at the venue back in November last year, the Matthew Eales-trained runner was allowed to drift in the betting market to start the $23 outsider on the tote in the ten-horse field.

Fitted for the race with a soft trial over 1000m at Awapuni last month, the five-year-old son of Wrote stripped in great order and raced right up to his looks with an amazing performance to get in the decisive stride in the five-horse finish.

Rider Leah Hemi didn’t panic when Sotirio was slightly slow away as she knew she had to position him towards the outside rail in the home straight where the better going appeared to be.

Hemi did that nicely and rounding the home bend she had tracked up the well fancied Sumosaurus (NZ) (Time Test) before getting to one off the outside rail as the field straightened for the tough slog down the home straight.

At the 300m there were five live chances disputing the finish with Sotirio battling well but looking as though a top three placing would be his lot.

Hemi and her mount dug deep as the five horses extended to the finish, however it was Sotirio who put his nose in front to claim the major spoils from Sumosaurus, who was just a nose away, with a head to Perfectsister (NZ) (Per Incanto) who looked the likely winner at the 100m. Fancypants (NZ) (Echoes Of Heaven) and Finest Hour (NZ) (Derryn) were just a head and a neck away in fourth and fifth respectively.

Eales was delighted with the result as he had set the horse for the race a few months ago and had him peaking at just the right time.

“This was the plan a long way out, although there was a delay in the live commentary and the TV so I thought we had run third,” Eales said.

“I still can’t believe we won and I’ve watched the replay more than twenty times.

“He was good enough to run in the Hawkes Bay Guineas (Gr.2, 1400m) as a three-year-old but last year he just never came up.

“He is physically a different horse this time in and though he was running out of his grade we had set this as his goal.

“My only fear was if the track got puggy but thankfully we had plenty of rain yesterday and it was perfect for him. It certainly feels good when a plan comes off.”

Eales is unsure where to next although he believes the horse is going from strength to strength and he will be able to cope with longer assignments in this campaign.

“He won two races over the winter last time and now he is stronger,” he said.

“When he gets rain close to raceday he can really rattle home.

“We might come back here in a month for a rating 75 1300m but I think he could stretch to a mile so races like the Winter Cup (Gr.3, 1600m) and Opunake Cup (Listed, 1400m) could be on the cards.” Sotirio was offered for sale from the Ohukia Lodge draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale in 2021, but was passed in for $25,000. He is now raced by a large syndicate who have seen him tip nearly $94,000 into his bank account by winning four of his 23 starts.

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