A storming finish has carried Guiseppina past Australian favourite Atomic Force and on to victory in the Group One Telegraph Handicap at Trentham.
Atomic Force was bidding to complete the New Zealand summer sprint double on Saturday, having taken out the Railway Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie in Auckland on New Year’s Day.
The gelding, carrying the top weight of 59kg, had looked to be on course to achieving a feat last done by Loader in 1996 as the field headed for home.
But Guiseppina, carrying 53kg, made light of a wide barrier draw to fly down the outside and win the $NZ300,000 1200m event.
The five-year-old mare finished in a time of 1:06.94 on a good track to head off Atomic Force by a long neck with El Chico third, three-quarters of a length further back.
Trainer Steven Ramsay said he knew when Guiseppina had a gallop on Wednesday that she was “bang on” in her preparation.
He said the one disappointment was that co-owner Peter Vela, who is suffering from a bad back, could not be trackside to witness the win.
Jockey James McDonald also said he had been confident beforehand that it would be Guiseppina’s day.
He said he chose the wide run home because he wanted to make sure he didn’t get involved in any mishaps.
“I didn’t want there to be any hard luck stories and that’s why I came the widest runner,” he said.
“I knew she was the best horse in the field. That won’t be her last Group One, that’s for sure.”
McDonald was also disappointed that Vela couldn’t be present, saying he and Philip Vela had done so much for his career.
“Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” he said.
“To win a Group One in these colours is just amazing.”
There was drama at the 400m mark when Durham Town’s rider, Vinnie Colgan, was thrown over the rail as he tried to pilot his mount through a gap on the inside of Atomic Force.
Colgan came through incident without serious injury.
AAP TURF
