Trainer Andrew Forsman collected the major spoils in the feature flat event at Hastings on Saturday, the Valley D’Vine Restaurant Handicap (1400m).
Talented four-year-old Wessex duly rewarded the many punters who sent her out as the dominant $1.70 favourite for the open 1400m contest, off the back of a gritty performance to finish third behind Casino Princess in the Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m) at her last start.
Well handled by apprentice Rihaan Goyaram, the Turn Me Loose mare assumed her normal pace making role in the contest and set up a steady speed throughout on a track that was favouring front runners in the early races.
Second favourite Dusty Road ($4.20) sat outside the pace throughout and looked to level up at the 300m, however Wessex found plenty as she enjoyed carrying just 50kgs thanks to Goyaram’s four-kilogram claim and drew clear in the final stages to win comfortably by three lengths at the post.
The expat Mauritian apprentice has now won four races since commencing his career last month and was enthusiastic about the performance.
“She is a very good horse, and I would like to thank Mr Forsman for giving me such a good horse to ride,” Goyaram said.
“She jumped well, and the plan was to lead. I gave her a good breather and on the bend I asked her (for an effort) and she just never gave up.
“Once I saw the other horse coming, I asked for more and she (Wessex) did so well as she gave me more.”
Forsman was in attendance at Te Rapa and caught the race on television.
“We were a little nervous about 1400m again as after her run last time we thought she might need the mile at his stage of her preparation,” he said.
“Once it came down to a fight though the weight relief kicked in which was the winning of the race.
“We will take a look around now and although the Opunake Cup (Listed, 1400m) is an option I still think in that class of field the 1400m is too short for her.
“The other option is to keep her fresh and chip away at them as there are plenty of options for her over the next couple of months.”
Bred by Windsor Park Stud, Wessex was a $150,000 purchase by Forsman and part-owner Ben Kwok out of the Stud’s Book 1 draft during the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale at Karaka.
Out of the stakes winning mare Trepidation, who finished third on two occasions in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham, Wessex has won four of her 20 starts and over $184,000 in prizemoney.
