A pair of Kiwi imports combined when jockey Linda Meech gave Zoltan a ten out of ten ride to prevail in the Ascend Trophies Handicap (1600m) at The Valley on Saturday.
A four-time winner in New Zealand, Zoltan was having his third start for Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde, and the well supported favourite took the shortest way home under Meech.
As the field approached the 600-metre mark, Meech took full advantage when rival Dark Wanderer vacated the inside, with many jockeys fearing it could be inferior ground due to Friday night rain and the recent traffic on the track.
But Meech was happy to take the inside run and by the home turn had made her way to the front before Zoltan pulled clear in the home straight.
“I spoke to connections and they were worried about the fence. At the end of the day it might be off but I was pretty happy to stay there,” Meech said.
“You have to wait when there’s horses in front of you and outside of you. You just have to be patient. They all rolled off and I was happy to go inside them.
“He was good. He’s race-fit. He’s going along really well and full credit to Symon. At Caulfield I was a bit hesitant but he’s turned the horse around and got him absolutely flying.”
The gelded son of Iffraaj was originally prepared by Ken Rae and Krystal Williams-Tuhoro and finished fifth in the Gr.2 Coupland’s Mile (1600m) last year before crossing the Tasman, with his original owners staying in for a share in a larger syndicate.
Beaten just over two lengths by Excelida when seventh fresh-up at Caulfield on Boxing Day, Zoltan ran into potential top-liner Tuvalu when second in the Port Fairy Cup (1400m) before winning on Saturday.
Wilde was represented by Ben Casaneila at The Valley, who like many on-lookers was delighted with the ride.
“I think she (Meech) had a whistle about halfway, blew it and away she went,” Casaneila said.
“It’s fantastic for the ownership group of the horse through connections of the stable. They decided to bring the horse over from New Zealand and have a crack here trying to win races like open handicaps with the better prizemoney, some of the owners are here today and they’re absolutely stoked.
“It’s great to see smiles on their faces and it makes the trip worthwhile coming across from New Zealand.
“We knew he’d run well. He hasn’t missed a beat since coming to the stable and his form behind Tuvalu, I think that’s going to be pretty good from.
“He got in well, we thought it was a good race for him. With the way the race panned out, Linda rode him a treat.”
Bred by Mal Barratt and Richard Trayling, who part-own the galloper, Zoltan is out of the five-win mare Ebony Babe and is a half-brother to Group One winner Sound Proposition.
