Godolphin colourbearer Hauraki (Aus) (Reset {Aus}) snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to claim a maiden Group 1 win in the Epsom H. at Randwick on Saturday. The 5-year-old has often hit the crossbar in top-level events and on this occasion it looked like more of the same until James McDonald conjured up a late surge from the colt to run down the unlucky Dibiyani (Ire) (Shamardal) by a shorthead with Mackintosh (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) only a head back in third. The win paid a further handsome compliment to superstar mare Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}), who beat the winner easily on their last start but trainer John O'Shea is keen to have another crack at Chris Waller's champion.
“He wasn't too far from Winx when we met her last start and on that back of that performance I'll be recommending to the boss [Sheikh Mohammed] that we consider running in the [G1] Cox Plate,” O'Shea told Racing.com. The trainer had all but written off Hauraki's chances from mid race and he was pleasantly taken aback by how the closing stages unfolded. “I thought we was going to run fifth. We didn't even get to cheer because he came that quick,” O'Shea said.
Having been runner up in four Group 1 races in a 19-race career so far, jockey James McDonald was delighted Hauraki got the victory he feels he richly deserves.
“He's got great form throughout his career and has raced against the best. He's been a bridesmaid so many times, second, second, second and there have been a few doubters of him but he is my favourite at the moment,” he said. One feels for the connections of Dibiyani, the ex-Irish runner also seeking a first Group 1 victory who appeared to do everything right except have his head in front when it mattered.
“I can't believe he got beaten,” said jockey Damian Lane. “I thought he had just done enough but somehow he got done on the line.” Thoughts echoed by co-trainer Ben Hayes who remarked, “We were so close, you can't fault the horse's performance, he produced another great run but he has been beaten on the line.”
Pedigree Notes:
Hauraki is living up to his fine pedigree emulating his Group 1-winning half-brother Kidnapped who won the G1 South Australian Derby in 2010. They are two of the four stakes winners produced by the unraced mare Youthful Presence whose six runners from 12 foals are all winners. Hauraki's granddam Young Vic is by the stamina influence Old Vic (Ire) (Sadlers' Wells) and is herself the dam of Australian GSW Walking Or Dancing (NZ) (Falvelon {Aus}). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
TAB EPSOM H.-G1, A$997,000, ATC, 10-01, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:33.87, gd.
1–&HAURAKI (Aus), 56.0, g, 5, by Reset (Aus)
1st Dam: Youthful Presence (Aus), by Dehere
2nd Dam: Young Vic (GB), by Old Vic (IRE)
3rd Dam: Loralane (GB), by Habitat
O-Godolphin; B-Darley NSW; T-J A O'Shea; J-J B Mc Donald; A$601,000. Lifetime Record: 20-5-7-2, A$2,006,660. *1/2 to Kidnapped (Aus) (Viscount {Aus}) G1SW-Aus $654,402; 1/2 to
Academus (Aus) (Lohnro {Aus}) MGSW-Aus $598,836; 1/2 to Deledio (Aus) (Tesa Rossa {Aus}) SW-Aus $113,781. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++
*Triple Plus*
2–Dibayani (IRE), 54.0, g, 6, Shamardal–Dibiya (IRE), by Caerleon. O-Lucky Racing Syndicate (Mgr: R C S Ng); B-His Highness The Aga Khan's Studs S, FR; T-D & B Hayes & T Dabernig; J-Damian Lane; A$198,000.
3–Mackintosh (NZ), 52.0, g, 4, Pins (Aus)–Lolly Scramble (NZ), by Generous (IRE). (NZ$11,000 Wlg 2013 NZB National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Sale). O-T Muollo, A Muollo & L Petagna; B-Waikato Stud Ltd, Waikato, NZ; T-C J Waller; J-Tommy Berry; A$99,000.
Margins: 0.1, 0.3, 0.6
Also Ran: Happy Clapper (Aus), Le Romain (Aus), McCreery (GB), Heavens Above (Aus), Torgersen (NZ), Vanbrugh (Aus), Fabrizio (Aus), Mighty Lucky (Aus), Sons of John (Aus), Palentino (Aus). Click for the Racing Post result.
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