Photo: Kenton Wright, Race Images
Spencer (Derryn), the find of the winter sprinting ranks, showed he could be just as effective on better going when he claimed a decisive victory in the Gr.3 Valley D’Vine Restaurant Spring Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.
The Erin Hocquard-trained five-year-old put three victories in a row together during the winter before finishing runner-up in the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) back in July.
The son of Derryn was thereabouts in his next three starts but was left alone by punters on Saturday, starting at the generous odds of $17.60 in an even field, mainly because of concerns on whether he would be as effective on a Soft6 surface as opposed to a Heavy10.
Spencer made a nonsense of that theory as apprentice Triston Moodley planted him behind pacemaker Witz End after a torrid five-way battle for early dominance and allowed him to find a settled rhythm before issuing his challenge rounding the home bend.
Asked for a serious effort, Spencer dashed clear and maintained a strong gallop to the finish, holding out a late surge from Geriatrix with Dusty Road closing well to take third.
Hocquard cut an emotional figure as she reacted to the victory, her first training success at stakes level in a limited career that commenced in the 2016/17 racing season after spending time working for Aidan Schumacher, who co-bred and part-owns Spencer.
“That is just so good, too good,” Hocquard said.
“It’s awesome as it is just little old me from Waverley with the first Group race I’ve been in.
“I started off in Wanganui and made my way to Aidan a couple of years later. I hadn’t ridden much and he even named a horse after me, Goldie Cantride, but hopefully I can now as I ride this guy every day and he is not the easiest.
“I was a bit worried about the track because he hasn’t done much on a good surface and last time here he didn’t go so well, but last night he ate everything and I was so happy with him.
“Who knows what he is capable of and I don’t know where he will go next as I have to get home first.”
Moodley was also ecstatic to pull off the victory with a peach of a ride.
“I didn’t expect to be outside the leader, but I saw Matt (Cartwright, Witz End) and he is always a good person to follow,” he said.
“It was a brilliant decision as when he started coming back to me my horse got going and when we hit the straight he had a great turn of foot.
“He put them to bed well and that shows just what a good horse he is.
“This means a lot to me as I’ve been struggling a bit lately. People have been behind me though and I just really appreciate that support.”
Spencer has now won six of his eighteen starts and over $218,000 in prizemoney.
