Thunder Down Under
Trish Dunell Photography
Stephen Ralph is already looking ahead to the spring and a Group One campaign for Thunder Down Under.
The Te Rapa trainer has never lost faith in the colt, despite a series of defeats that were finally put to an end by a canny Mark Hillis ride in Saturday's Bestaff Rating 85 at Ellerslie.
"It's about time – his whole three-year-old preparation has been frustrating and I'm so glad Mark showed his initiative and took him to the front and the horse showed just what he can do," Ralph said.
The strapping son of Street Sense revelled in his work at the head of the field and he had no trouble holding the challenge of Meritaggio at bay in the straight to score by three quarters of a length.
Thunder Down Under's victory followed an unlucky fifth placing in the Gr.2 Championship Stakes after he suffered early interference when Danielle Johnson parted company with Romantic Maid.
"We thought he would win that day and then we'd go to Australia for the Queensland Derby," Ralph said.
"We know he's a very good stayer with a devastating 400 metre sprint, but he's had so much bad luck.
"I'll probably give him a run a month now as we head toward the spring."
Ralph is keen to set Thunder Down Under for the Triple Crown series at Hastings – "it might not be a track that suits him, but I know he is a weight-for-age horse," he said. – NZ Racing Desk.
The Te Rapa trainer has never lost faith in the colt, despite a series of defeats that were finally put to an end by a canny Mark Hillis ride in Saturday's Bestaff Rating 85 at Ellerslie.
"It's about time – his whole three-year-old preparation has been frustrating and I'm so glad Mark showed his initiative and took him to the front and the horse showed just what he can do," Ralph said.
The strapping son of Street Sense revelled in his work at the head of the field and he had no trouble holding the challenge of Meritaggio at bay in the straight to score by three quarters of a length.
Thunder Down Under's victory followed an unlucky fifth placing in the Gr.2 Championship Stakes after he suffered early interference when Danielle Johnson parted company with Romantic Maid.
"We thought he would win that day and then we'd go to Australia for the Queensland Derby," Ralph said.
"We know he's a very good stayer with a devastating 400 metre sprint, but he's had so much bad luck.
"I'll probably give him a run a month now as we head toward the spring."
Ralph is keen to set Thunder Down Under for the Triple Crown series at Hastings – "it might not be a track that suits him, but I know he is a weight-for-age horse," he said. – NZ Racing Desk.
