The Wolf Cry gelding Wolflands advanced his record to four wins from seven starts with a fighting win in the Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge (955m) on Moir Stakes night at Moonee valley.
Ridden by apprentice Carleen Hefel for Cranbourne-based trainer Julien Welsh, Wolflands edged out the Group III winner Sartorial Splendor Brazen Beau) by a short-half-head with Great Diviner (Shamus Award) one and a quarter length back in third.
A hombred for Nik Crumpton and Jo Stevens, Wolflands is the lone winner from two foals from the O’Reilly mare Crosslands, a $300 purchase at the 2014 Inglis March Thoroughbred Sale.
From the family of slick Hong Kong sprinter Able Prince, Wolflands has returned $155,550 from his seven wins and a third from seven starts.
He’s a really exciting horse. I’ve really got some high hopes for him,” Welsh said.
“I came into this race tonight thinking that I’ve got to use the weight. He only had 53 (kg) and drew barrier 13 when I saw that I nearly jumped off a bridge when the acceptances came out.
“I said to Carleen that you’ve just got to make them work. He’s hard fit, this horse, for quite a few months. He’s been to Adelaide, he’s come back, and tonight was a real test for him.
“I just wanted to see where he sat in the scheme of things. He’s only lightly raced at his seventh start and won four now. I couldn’t be happier, and Carleen rode him a treat.
“When he gets a bit of a sniff and he’s up there, he can fight it out. He really digs in deep and tonight really showed that.
“I was going to put him out - he’s been up a long time - but I suppose when you win a race like this there’s alway something going on in your mind. We’ll just see how he pulls up and take it from there, but I haven’t got any big plans for him but tonight was sort of his grand final.”
Wolf Cry (Street Cry) stands at Larneuk Stud for a fee of $3,300.
