A resolute finishing burst carried promising stayer Trust In You (NZ) (Sweynesse) to his biggest career win when he took out the Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers Championship Final (2400m) at Pukekohe on Tuesday.
A clear last after jumping slowly from a wide barrier (12), rider Michael McNab was happy to let the Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley-prepared runner find his feet as the pair cruised along with majority of the 14-horse field in front of them.
McNab began to get serious as he picked a path between rivals approaching the home turn before asking the son of Sweynesse to get serious as he found clear air early in the run home.
Just as Liquid Fire (NZ) (Shocking) looked to have mastered Canheroc (NZ) (El Roca) and was heading to an upset victory, McNab got every ounce out of his mount and dived at the pair to win by a neck from Liquid Fire with a similar margin back to Canheroc.
“He relaxed nice and got home nice likely he normally does,” Cooksley said.
“He has been sitting two of three wide in most of his starts lately but he had a good run today.
“We have him in the Queen Elizabeth so we will see how he pulls up and work it out from there.”
Cooksley was referring to the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) back at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day, where he now sits at a $10 Fixed Odds quote in a market headed by Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m) winner Dionysus- (NZ) (Ocean Park) at $2.80.
Out of the six-win mare Shinko Bay (NZ) (Shinko King), who won at Listed level, Trust In You is a half-brother to stakes-placed mare Donna Anne Billy (NZ) (Tavistock) and comes from an extended family that includes other black-type performers in Flying Free (NZ) (Heroicity), Cool Storm (NZ) (One Cool Cat) and Matinee Idol (NZ) (Broadway Aly).
Offered by Novara Park during the Book 2 Sale at Karaka in 2020, he was purchased by Wallace for $26,000 and has now won three of his 21 starts and just under $153,000 in prizemoney.
