Fully Funded wins at Ellerslie over 1200m
Photo: Trish Dunell
Tenacious gelding Fully Funded displayed all his fighting qualities when he lifted himself off the canvas to snatch a knockout victory in his open class debut at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Successful at the same venue on Boxing Day in rating 75 company, Fully Funded looked to have met his match in the 1200 metre contest as the field of five runners squared off inside the final 200 metres of the event. Having set a leisurely pace in front Fully Funded was headed firstly by race favourite Irish Moon and then by Cartell as they got within the shadows of the winning post.
To the surprise of many, including rider Mark Du Plessis, the four-year-old refused to be beaten as he fought back to snatch victory in a blanket finish by a bare nose from Cartell with a neck to Sports Illustrated and the fading Irish Moon.
Trainer Joanne Surgenor was delighted with the effort after making the decision to tackle the higher grade with the son of Fully Fledged.
"He has just thrived lately and after he won so well on Boxing Day we took a punt and lined him up against the top grade," she said.
"It's a big leap from rating 75 to open class but he had been running the times to say he would be competitive and with not much else around for him we decided to have a go."
Like most of those watching the race unfold Surgenor thought her winning chances were gone when her charge was headed during the closing stages of the contest.
"He goes best when he can sprint of a good pace so I was a little concerned Mark might not have gone quick enough on him early in the race," she explained.
"When they got to him in the straight I did think we would be settling for a place rather than a win but he just refused to give in.
"When Mark came back in he said exactly the same thing and admitted he got a bit of a surprise when he charged back at them. He was very complimentary and is of the opinion it won't be his last win in that company."
Surgenor will now give the gelding a few easy days in the paddock before bringing him back for a possible attempt at the Gr. 3 Darley Plate at Ellerslie during Auckland Cup Week. – NZ Racing Desk
Successful at the same venue on Boxing Day in rating 75 company, Fully Funded looked to have met his match in the 1200 metre contest as the field of five runners squared off inside the final 200 metres of the event. Having set a leisurely pace in front Fully Funded was headed firstly by race favourite Irish Moon and then by Cartell as they got within the shadows of the winning post.
To the surprise of many, including rider Mark Du Plessis, the four-year-old refused to be beaten as he fought back to snatch victory in a blanket finish by a bare nose from Cartell with a neck to Sports Illustrated and the fading Irish Moon.
Trainer Joanne Surgenor was delighted with the effort after making the decision to tackle the higher grade with the son of Fully Fledged.
"He has just thrived lately and after he won so well on Boxing Day we took a punt and lined him up against the top grade," she said.
"It's a big leap from rating 75 to open class but he had been running the times to say he would be competitive and with not much else around for him we decided to have a go."
Like most of those watching the race unfold Surgenor thought her winning chances were gone when her charge was headed during the closing stages of the contest.
"He goes best when he can sprint of a good pace so I was a little concerned Mark might not have gone quick enough on him early in the race," she explained.
"When they got to him in the straight I did think we would be settling for a place rather than a win but he just refused to give in.
"When Mark came back in he said exactly the same thing and admitted he got a bit of a surprise when he charged back at them. He was very complimentary and is of the opinion it won't be his last win in that company."
Surgenor will now give the gelding a few easy days in the paddock before bringing him back for a possible attempt at the Gr. 3 Darley Plate at Ellerslie during Auckland Cup Week. – NZ Racing Desk