Leading Eagle Farm trainer Barry Baldwin knows all too well that good things come to those who wait.
Baldwin has spent the last three years trying to get his promising mare Tapiki sound enough to start in a race and was rewarded for his patience when she scored a hard-fought win at Doomben on Wednesday.
Tapiki was specked in betting to run the $7 third favourite and justified the support by breaking through for a half-head win in the Sky Racing Maiden (1110m) at just her second start.
Baldwin said Tapiki had always displayed plenty of promise but her long list of mystery ailments meant she had spent much of her career thus far recuperating in the paddock.
“We’ve had her X-rayed many times and had a lot of different vets go over her and they can find nothing,” Baldwin said.
“It’s been very frustrating because she can gallop.
“She goes sore in the joints and shins for no apparent reason and we can’t pinpoint the problem.
“I nearly had to tip her out again about four weeks back but we got her right and I was confident today – we had something on her in the ring.
“She has got to improve a bit but I think she’s the sort of horse who can go and win better races provided I can get her 100 per cent fit.”
Four-year-old Tapiki rallied strongly in the straight under the urgings of Michael Hellyer and kicked back after being headed to beat Hetty ($2.10 fav) with Dark Matter ($13) a short head back third.
Meanwhile, comeback apprentice Mitchell Wood continued on his winning way when he lifted Funny Falve to a narrow win in the Drumbeats @ Lyndhurst Handicap (1020m).
The talented Wood has only recently returned from injury but has already found his timing with wins on Skating On Ice at the Gold Coast on Goldmarket day and his well-judged ride aboard Funny Falve on Wednesday.
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