Returning for the first time as a gelding, Vomo Island has taken an important step towards fulfilling his potential with a maiden victory at Wyong.
Trainers Peter and Paul Snowden have always had a healthy opinion of the three-year-old, who was competitive against the likes of stakes performers Inhibitions, Tannhauser and Celestial Legend as a juvenile.
But when he was beaten as an odds-on favourite first-up at Newcastle in August then finished down the track in Group company at his next start, Vomo Island’s fate was sealed and the decision made to cut him.
“He’s back as a gelding now so he’s a racehorse and that’s it,” stable representative Colum McCullagh told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“The stallion dream is over but hopefully we can knock over a few races for (owners) GPI.
“Great result for the team. It has been a long road with the horse but glad to get the job done.”
Ridden by Kerrin Mcevoy, Vomo Island ($1.70 bookmakers fav) didn’t begin as smartly as anticipated but he mustered speed to find a trail behind the leader.
McEvoy urged him to give chase cornering for home and once he balanced up in the straight, he quickly overhauled Mathkhoora ($4.40) to defeat the Hawkes Racing filly by 1-1/4 lengths with One Last Shot ($6.50) third.
Despite the race not going to plan, McEvoy said Vomo Island did a good job to adapt and get a win on the board.
“He jumped and sat close in the trial, so it was a Plan B type scenario there when I was back behind them,” McEvoy said.
“But he was able to get on the back of the leader and we got a nice cart along.
“I just kept him up to the mark and asked him for an effort off the corner, but he did his best work the last part of the race, so that was good.”
Vomo Island is a half brother to Listed winner Wayupinthesky and McCullagh hasn’t ruled out the former finding his way back into black-type company in time.
“We won’t set the bar too high, but if he can get there it would be a great result,” McCullagh said.
