A horse bought as a 60th birthday present qualified for the Melbourne Cup and gave the Gangi family its first city winner in the VRC St Leger Stakes at Flemington.
Daniel Gangi and his father Neil waited 18 years to savour their greatest moment on the track when Vatuvei, trained by Peter Moody, powered home to land Wednesday’s 2800-metre feature.
Gangi was overcome with emotion as he recalled how he bought, as a birthday present for his father, one of 10 shares in the son of Reset who cost $NZ150,000.
“This is a dream come true,” Daniel Gangi said.
“Me and Dad have had 20 horses over 18 years and never had a city winner so we’re pretty excited.”
Vatuvei rewarded the Moody stable after finishing second in last year’s St Leger with Almodovar, who returned to Flemington on Wednesday and won the William Newton VC Handicap (2600m).
Moody, who also won the 2004 St Leger with Desert Clearance, was elated for Vatuvei’s connections, particularly the Gangis who had tried for so long to have good race winner.
Vatuvei, who last start was third in the Listed Galilee Series Final (2400m) at Mornington, was strongly fancied and ended up $4.60 favourite after Galilee winner Backbone drifted from $3.80 to $5.
King Of The Forest, as the pacemaker, ensured a genuine staying test for the three-year-olds which helped make the race for the backmarkers.
Luke Nolen had Vatuvei positioned in the last four most of the way but early in the home straight he had reached the lead.
He came away with Practiced ($9) to fight out race, outstaying his rival to win by 1-1/4 lengths while About the Journey ($51) finished 11 lengths away third.
“He got to the front a bit too soon but it was a good staying effort and he certainly loved the soft ground,” said Moody who described Vatuvei as a work in progress.
“We have been patient and let him come along at his own speed and it’s nice to see it come to fruition today.”
Vatuvei is now qualified for the Caulfield Cup and the next two Melbourne Cups but Moody isn’t making any bold plans just yet.
He said Vatuvei was most likely to be spelled but he was keeping the Queensland Derby in June open as an option should he recover well enough from Wednesday’s win.
“More than likely that is the end of his preparation now,” Moody said.
“He’s still got a bit of furnishing out to do and I think he will continue to improve, but to what level I don’t know.”
