Race Images South
A tricky Group One decision has been taken out of Jason Waddell’s hands.
The Cambridge jockey had been faced with a choice between impressive last-start winners Ever loyal and Sumstreetsumwhere for his Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) ride, but the latter’s sale to overseas interests has solved his Riccarton conundrum.
“He won’t be going to Christchurch, it’s all confirmed and he’ll be off to Hong Kong,” Sumstreetsumwhere’s trainer Stephen Marsh said.
“I liked his chances for Riccarton, but that’s the way it goes and he’s on his way.”
Raced by fellow trainer Ben Foote, Waikato horseman Sam Beatson and standardbred identity Andrew Stuart, Sumstreetsumwhere won two of his three starts for Marsh, including the Gr.2 Sarten Memorial (1400m).
His sale, brokered by Waterford Bloodstock, means Waddell is now locked in for the mount on Saturday week aboard the Tony Pike-trained Ever Loyal.
“I couldn’t really split the two horses so it saves me making the choice,” he said.
The 31-year-old has ridden the three-year-old in all four of his starts, including consecutive wins with the last of them a particularly strong performance to beat Scott Base in the Listed Zacinto Stakes (1600m).
“I’ve thought he was a Guineas horse ever since I sat on him in a trial in March, but he got beaten in his first two starts which I didn’t expect,” Waddell said.
“He’s come right though and he’s got to be a massive chance.”
The emergence of Ever Loyal has also courted an offshore admirer of the son of Sebring.
“There’s been significant interest from Australia to buy part of the horse and they would still run him in the Guineas if anything happened, but nothing is confirmed and at this stage he’s definitely running,” Pike said. – NZ Racing Desk.