A first look at 2400m brought the very best out of well-related mare House Of Lords, who outfinished the highly rated favourite Ichnusa to take out the A$150,000 Catanach’s Jewellers 150 Years Handicap at Sandown on Saturday.
The six-year-old is by in-form Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor and is out of Shez Sinsational, who was a four-time winner at Group One level including the Auckland Cup over 3200m.
Trained by Peter Gelagotis, House Of Lords had previously been a five-time winner between 1400m and 2200m.
After being unplaced in her first five runs this season over distances ranging from 1400m to 2040m, House Of Lords stepped up to 2400m for the first time on Saturday and relished the extra distance.
She was patiently ridden by Craig Newitt, who tacked on to the back of Ichnusa when the $1.95 favourite got an ideal tow into the race thanks to Johnich’s big move to take the lead before the turn.
Ichnusa took over from Johnich early in the home straight and went clear, but House Of Lords moved through her gears and produced a powerful closing kick that the favourite couldn’t match. She went on to win by half a length, with four and a half lengths back to Johnich in third.
“She had a beautiful run in transit,” Newitt said. “I was happy when a couple pulled the trigger early, which just enabled me to keep sucking up on the back of them without having to be the one to do it. She was very strong late.
“She benefited from it being the first race. She normally doesn’t like it heavy, and it’s proper heavy today, so I think first use of it helped. She was able to get good grip and it was a good, tenacious win.”
Gelagotis is now working backwards from the A$300,000 Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) on December 12.
“Her mother was a superstar in New Zealand, and I have no doubt that she has got bigger things to achieve in her career,” he said. “Definitely the Pakenham Cup's on the radar.
“I've got to give credit here. Craig Newitt, what an outstanding ride. He just showed great patience and poise. He must have felt her very strong underneath him, and he let those horses go, and I thought, you know, but it was the right call, and he had the last crack at it to the outside.
“I love this mare, and she's just been so luckless this preparation. It's ridiculous, a horse of her quality, she's got duck eggs next to her name, and it doesn't reflect how well she's going. But she got her right chance today in the right grade, and she really shone through. Couldn't be more proud of her effort. Congratulations to the ownership group, and again, 20-out-of-10 ride, Craig Newitt, well deserved.”
Bred by Peter Gillespie and Bill Gleeson, House Of Lords was a trial winner for Awapuni trainer Peter Didham before she joined the Pakenham operation of Gelagotis.
Raced by connections that include staunch stable supporters Steve and Paul Moss, the mare has now won six of her 18 starts, with a further two placings. She has earned A$294,825.
Along with the Group One-winning deeds of her dam Shez Sinsational, House Of Lords has additional boosts to her pedigree as a half-sister to Group winners and top-flight placegetters Sinarahma and House Of Cartier and Group Two performer Manifique. – NZ Racing Desk.
