Hardy Kiwi galloper Travimyfriend (NZ) (Tavistock) caused a minor upset at Flemington on Saturday when coming with a well-timed run under Dean Yendall to land the Listed The Sofitel (1400m) and swamping the favourite Windstorm (Redoute’s Choice) to win by three-quarters of a length.
The eight-year-old gelding has been running well, having finished second to progressive sprinter Showmanship (NZ) (Showcasing) at Caulfield last month, while he had also won at the same venue in July.
Prepared by Rachael Frost, who these days is based at Mornington, Travimyfriend was Group One placed in his homeland before crossing the Tasman and the ex-pat Kiwi relished her first win at Flemington.
“He’s just a neat old horse,” Frost said. “He generally always tries, he’s just wonderful.
“He jumped out really well. He might’ve run last but I rode him in a jump out against Pippie and he worked through the line really good. It ticked him over nicely.
“It’s my first win here (at Flemington), it’s good. We’ll find another race for him.”
When the predicted rain failed to arrive ahead of The Sofitel, many punters discounted Travimyfriend as a winning prospect.
With six of Travimyfriend’s seven wins being on soft ground, the gelding was sent out a $21 chance.
Yendall said a bump shortly after the start put Travimyfriend in a position he had never been in before.
“He ran at a really good solid tempo and he travelled really nicely,” Yendall said.
“He put the writing on the wall last time when he ran a good race against Showmanship. I knew he wasn’t hopeless but I’d hoped this bloody rain would have come earlier so it would have been a genuine soft for him when he went around. He adapted to that. It’s probably now a Soft 6 at worst.
“It was a great effort by him and a great effort by Rachael for getting him going again.”
The 50-start veteran has been a terrific money spinner for connections, having banked A$466,664. A son of the late Cambridge Stud stallion Tavistock, Travimyfriend’s Listed win saw him become the 21st stakes winner for his sire.
