Temple Tiger (rails) gets up to win at Trentham
Photo- Race Images Palmerston North
Twenty four hours after being in the midst of some wild celebrations brought about by a stunning victory from his progressive galloper Temple Tiger at Trentham on Saturday, trainer Gary Hennessy was able to reflect on the satisfaction of completing the mission he had set for his charge from the outset of his racing career.
Bred by Hennessy from his stallion Tiger Prawn, the four year old gelding is owned and raced by a group of Hennessy's friends who are mainly based in Wellington. With the gelding trained at Hennessy's Matamata base the syndicate had found it difficult to be together on-course to support their pride and joy so his mentor set about finding an opportunity to have them all together to witness a victory.
An impressive win in rating 65 company at Waipukurau in December provided the emphasis for Hennessy to target a start on Wellington Cup Day. To cap a fairytale end Temple Tiger delivered in exhilarating fashion through a last stride success.
"They are such a great group that all I wanted was to get a win when we could all be together to celebrate," said Hennessy.
"I thought we might pull that off at Waipukurau but through circumstances and some self inflicted headaches from the day before, not everyone could make it that day.
"When he won so well I did think we might be able to go to the Wellington Carnival so I looked at the programme and the race on Saturday looked an ideal target."
Despite having registered both his previous wins over 1200 metres Hennessy was confident the 1400 metres of the Crombie Lockwood Bloodstock Insurance sponsored event was what his charge was looking for.
"In all of his starts in this campaign he has really hit the line strongly so I felt the 1400 metres would be perfect for him," he said.
"As it turned out he needed every one of those 1400 metres to get his head in front but he had it in the right place at the right time and I'm thrilled to bits with the win."
Hennessy will now turn his attention to this week's National Yearling Sale Series at Karaka where the first progeny of his multiple Group One winner and Cox Plate champion Ocean Park will venture into the auction ring.
"It's very exciting to see his yearlings hit the sales and we're hopeful of a good showing," he said.
"We have several in ourselves including the Lot 135 colt that will go through on the first day of the Premier sale.
"He has had plenty of attention this week as he is a cracking individual and I think on type alone he will sell well. We've got a full brother at home so if we can get a result it will set us up nicely for the future."
The annual New Zealand Bloodstock sale will commence at Karaka on Monday with the first of 230 individuals on the day set to go under the hammer at 11am. – NZ Racing Desk
Bred by Hennessy from his stallion Tiger Prawn, the four year old gelding is owned and raced by a group of Hennessy's friends who are mainly based in Wellington. With the gelding trained at Hennessy's Matamata base the syndicate had found it difficult to be together on-course to support their pride and joy so his mentor set about finding an opportunity to have them all together to witness a victory.
An impressive win in rating 65 company at Waipukurau in December provided the emphasis for Hennessy to target a start on Wellington Cup Day. To cap a fairytale end Temple Tiger delivered in exhilarating fashion through a last stride success.
"They are such a great group that all I wanted was to get a win when we could all be together to celebrate," said Hennessy.
"I thought we might pull that off at Waipukurau but through circumstances and some self inflicted headaches from the day before, not everyone could make it that day.
"When he won so well I did think we might be able to go to the Wellington Carnival so I looked at the programme and the race on Saturday looked an ideal target."
Despite having registered both his previous wins over 1200 metres Hennessy was confident the 1400 metres of the Crombie Lockwood Bloodstock Insurance sponsored event was what his charge was looking for.
"In all of his starts in this campaign he has really hit the line strongly so I felt the 1400 metres would be perfect for him," he said.
"As it turned out he needed every one of those 1400 metres to get his head in front but he had it in the right place at the right time and I'm thrilled to bits with the win."
Hennessy will now turn his attention to this week's National Yearling Sale Series at Karaka where the first progeny of his multiple Group One winner and Cox Plate champion Ocean Park will venture into the auction ring.
"It's very exciting to see his yearlings hit the sales and we're hopeful of a good showing," he said.
"We have several in ourselves including the Lot 135 colt that will go through on the first day of the Premier sale.
"He has had plenty of attention this week as he is a cracking individual and I think on type alone he will sell well. We've got a full brother at home so if we can get a result it will set us up nicely for the future."
The annual New Zealand Bloodstock sale will commence at Karaka on Monday with the first of 230 individuals on the day set to go under the hammer at 11am. – NZ Racing Desk