Long Range Wellington Cup Plan Pays Off

Race favourite Waisake completed a plan that was eight months in the making when he stormed home to take out the Gr3 Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham on Saturday. Trainer Allan Sharrock had told plenty of people over the past two years he felt the son of Zed was a true two miler in the making and was keen to formulate a plan that had the famous Trentham staying contest as the ultimate prize. According to racingnews.co.nz, that plan began to take shape when Waisake was successful over 2000m during the Hastings Spring carnival last year, with Sharrock carefully plotting a path to have his charge at peak for his Trentham assignment. Jockey Sam Collett diligently followed instructions to angle off the fence to make her run wider out in the home straight, winding her mount up for one final sprint and he delivered in style to collar Bluey's Chance with 50m to run and ease clear by half a length, with Te Rapa visitor Justamaiz storming home from near last to snatch third from Swords Drawn. "It's taken eight months, but we've ticked it off," a delighted Sharrock said. "There's nothing better than setting them for a race and then pulling it off. He's a lightly raced horse that will get better with age, so hopefully I will as well!" Purchased for just $28,000 by Sharrock from the Ainsley Downs Stud draft during the Festival sale at Karaka in 2016, Waisake has now won six of his 23 starts for a large group of owners including Sharrock and takes his prizemoney earnings in excess of $220,000.