Trish Dunell
Underrated Te Aroha galloper The Kipling Girl sprang an early upset at Pukekohe on Saturday when she stormed home out wide to snatch victory in the H.R. Fisken & Sons Ltd. 1600 (1600m).
Despite proving a model of consistency during a solid winter campaign on wetter tracks, most pundits overlooked the five-year-old High Chaparral mare’s credentials on the improved surface for Saturday’s meeting.
Trainer Scott Wenn was one who didn’t share those sentiments as he quickly explained when questioned after the race.
“When she was going so well earlier in the winter we kept her going but the heavy 11 tracks are far too heavy for her,” he said.
“She does like the sting out of the ground and won’t go on a rock hard track so we will keep her going if there is a little rain around.”
Both Wenn and rider Sam Collett had envisaged the mare would race in a handy position during the contest however a tardy jump and hot early pace put paid to that plan.
“When I did the form, I mapped myself to be in the one-one but when she didn’t jump well I said okay it’s Plan B, just let the speed go,” said Collett.
“I rode my own race and when they put the brakes on at the 1000m I managed to stay wide with some cover and rode her where she was comfortable.
“She did the rest.
“She was so unlucky at her last start and if I’d sat and waited I might not have got the run so there was no point in being unlucky again.”
The victory made it win number three in a 19-start career to date for The Kipling Girl. – NZ Racing Desk