Fresh off a seven-month spell, promising winter sprinter Spencer (NZ) (Derryn) produced a stunning performance to claim one of the feature events on the programme at Trentham, the Metro Interiors Autumn Sprint Final (1200m).
Trainer Erin Hocquard was confident of a good performance after the four-year-old had performed well in gallops and jump-outs leading into the contest, however she was in two minds as to whether the testing Heavy10 track may trip him up after such a long break away from racing.
As it turned out, he simply relished the underfoot conditions in the hands of Lisa Allpress as he rewarded the support of punters who backed him into $7.50 in the Fixed Odds market from an opening quote of $13.
Allpress had him travelling sweetly one off the fence in behind the early speed before sticking closer to the rail as runners fanned wide at the top of the straight.
The son of Grangewilliam Stud resident sire Derryn issued his challenge at the 300m and quickly shot to the lead for Allpress, before holding out a stern challenge from Cambridge visitor Super Wraith (NZ) (Super Easy) to collect the major spoils in the $50,000 event.
Allpress was impressed with the effort and also had plenty of praise for his trainer.
“Erin is doing a super job as she has her horses in great condition and looking so well,” Allpress said.
“I hadn’t ridden this guy before, but I went to the jump outs to ride a few and she was looking for a rider for him that day.
“He really impressed me the way he went so I asked to stick with him, and we got the result today.
“He travelled well throughout, and I had to stick closer in after he drew barrier two, but when I asked him to go, he really kicked and beat a very nice field.
“I just think he’s a real little racehorse who doesn’t mind rain affected tracks, which he is going to get from now on.
“Looking at his record he won over 1400m in his last campaign so the way he felt today I think he can certainly get over a little more ground.”
The victory also brought up a winning treble for Allpress who had earlier taken out race one aboard First Gear (NZ) (Derryn) for trainer Kevin Gray, followed by a win aboard The Ugly Sister (NZ) (Tivaci) for trainer Paul Pertab.
“First Gear is very promising and was simply too good today,” she said.
“He hasn’t finished winning and I thought The Ugly Sister was also very determined as she fought back hard in the closing stages for a good result.”
Bred and raced by members of Taranaki’s well-known Schumacher family, Spencer has now won three of his eleven starts with the promise of more to come over the next few months.
