Talented five-year-old mare Le Gai Soleil (NZ) (Tavistock) landed a valuable stakes victory when coming from near last to prevail in the Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m).
The John O’Shea-trained mare relished the Heavy10 conditions as she looped the field under jockey Larry Cassidy to defeat Dzsenefer (Scissor Kick) by a Long Head.
The well bred mare has now won seven races from 18 starts and Saturday’s win was clearly her most significant.
“I think the really wet, testing track played into her hands,” Cassidy said.
“Obviously I watched her races and saw that she gets back but not that far back. Though, they did run along and I just thought I’d better get moving from the 600 (metre mark), get to the outside and she comes at them. Comes at them and goes bang.
“I was in a bit of a tussle with the leader but she put pay to them. It was a good win.
“From barrier 11 I was able to sit four-wide with cover because they race quite compact and I knew that I wanted to go wide from the 600 anyway so the draw was no worry.”
Out of the Danzero mare Night Danza, Le Gai Soleil is a half-sister to triple Group One winner Danzdanzdance (Mastercraftsman) and Kiwi breeders Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax of Blandford Lodge remain in the ownership.
Le Gai Soleil became the 38th stakes winner for the late Cambridge Stud stallion Tavistock.
