Tivaci gelding Sought After took a big step towards the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) with a stylish come-from-behind performance in the Sistema (1200m) at Ellerslie on Sunday.
Following a winning debut at Taupo in the spring, Sought After earned himself a place in New Zealand racing history when he was selected by owner-breeders Waikato Stud to represent their slot in the NZB Kiwi. He became the first confirmed runner in the inaugural slot race.
Sought After’s rise to prominence briefly stuttered when he was an unlucky fifth at Te Rapa, then sixth in unsuitable Heavy8 ground in the Gr.2 Sarten Memorial (1400m) at Te Aroha.
But a strong-finishing second behind NZB Kiwi rival Damask Rose at Te Rapa last month suggested that Sought After was back on track, and that was confirmed on Sunday in his all-important first look around the NZB Kiwi venue.
Sought After was ridden at Ellerslie by Wiremu Pinn, who was a late replacement after Masa Hashizume suffered a shoulder injury in a fall at Trentham on Saturday.
Pinn took Sought After back to second-last among Sunday’s talented field of seven, then brought him to the outside at the home turn to make his run.
Sought After lengthened stride and powered past the front-running Miss Madridista with 200m remaining. But the highly rated debut winner Ardalio went with him and threw down a big challenge.
That pair pulled ahead of the rest of the field by more than three lengths and fought out a stirring finish, with Sought After edging out his gallant rival by a head. The previously unbeaten Thooza finished three and a quarter lengths away in third.
Sought After has now had five starts for two wins, a second and $57,885 in stakes.
Trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott were pleased to pick up the win on Sunday, but the opportunity to have a look around Ellerslie was every bit as important in the countdown to the NZB Kiwi on March 8.
“We’re keeping our eyes on the prize,” Scott said. “We’ve accomplished what we wanted to do today and we’re really aiming him at the NZB Kiwi now.
“We were pleased with his performance today. They didn’t go all that quick in front, and it looked like he might be in a bit of trouble around the 700m. But you could see that he was full of revs from the 600m onwards and building into the race nicely.
“It was good to see him come out into the open in the straight and really attack the line well. The second horse is very handy, and there was a long way back to third, so we couldn’t be more pleased with that.
“He’s handled Ellerslie well, so it’s onwards and upwards from here. He’ll most likely run here two weeks before the Kiwi, and then he can take his place in the big race.”
That likely final lead-up race is the Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) on February 22.
The TAB rates Sought After a $14 chance for the NZB Kiwi. That market is headed by $8 joint favourites Damask Rose, Evaporate and Savaglee. Damask Rose and Evaporate have both been selected for slots, while Savaglee is currently considered more likely to target the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 1. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.
