Mayor Of Norwood makes successful title defence on home patch

[Wandering Eyes]

Classy southern stayer Mayor Of Norwood (NZ) (Ghibellines) showed he will be more than a runner’s chance in the Gr.3 NZ Campus of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham in a fortnight when he lumped the topweight of 61kgs to a comprehensive victory in the Skevingtons Waikouaiti Cup (2200m) at Wingatui on Saturday.

The Brian and Shane Anderton-prepared seven-year-old had taken the 2025 version of the race and was looking to go back-to-back, albeit with an extra 2.5kgs on his back for regular pilot Corey Campbell.

Punters felt the additional handicap, 7kgs more than his nearest rival, was of no consequence and so it proved as he sat relaxed in midfield for Campbell before tracking into contention rounding the home bend.

Noble Knight (NZ) (Ghibellines) had shot clear at that point, however, Mayor Of Norwood was winding up strongly and joined issue with 200m to run before forging clear for a comfortable one length victory which indicated he is right where his trainers want him to be ahead of a Wellington Cup hit-and-run mission on 31 January.

Shane Anderton was pleased with the win and said he had to show his best to warrant a trip to Trentham.

“He was pretty impressive with the big weight today in a good, strong run race which helped him out a lot,” Anderton said.

“We knew he was very well, but if we are going to make the big trip up to Trentham he had to win like he did.

“Corey knows him well and it was a nice ride as he let him find his feet and get balanced around the home bend before asking for his best.

“He has a really good turn of foot as he has won over a mile twice before and we had toyed with running him in the sprint (1400m) instead of this one today.

“We did feel though that if he was going to Trentham, the middle distance suited him best and thankfully we pulled the right rein.”

By former White Robe Lodge stallion Ghibellines, who passed away late last year, Mayor Norwood is raced by the estate of his breeder, the late Patrick Smith, and is out of the useful race mare Gallant Babe (NZ) (Gallant Guru).

He is the younger brother of the stakes placed Capo Dell Impero (NZ) (Ghibellines) who took out the 2024 edition of the Waikouaiti Cup.

He has now won eight of his 35 starts, with six of those coming on his home track at Wingatui, and over $281,000 in prizemoney.

TAB Bookmakers have shortened him into a $10 Fixed Odds quote for the Wellington Cup where another southerner in Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2100m) winner Rosso (Camelot) sits as the $3.20 favourite in the market.

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