Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images)
Veteran galloper He’s A Doozy (Zacinto) showed age has not wearied him as he returned to the top step of the podium at his favourite course when bolting away with the Gr.2 Intowin.co.nz City of Palmerston North Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m) at Trentham.
The nine-year-old son of Zacinto experienced his biggest triumph when he took out the 2023 Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at the venue and took his record on the track to seven wins and three placings from 20 starts there on Saturday.
Although the Lisa Latta-trained gelding hadn’t been seen in the winners’ enclosure during his current campaign he had done everything but win, finishing in the top four in six of his seven runs before finally saluting the judge courtesy of a top ride from Kelly Myers.
Myers had He’s A Doozy positioned beautifully on the flank of pacemaker Knights Realm throughout before booting to the lead rounding the home bend.
He’s A Doozy kicked strongly at the 350m and put a winning margin on the hard-chasing Opawa Jack and never looked like being caught as he eased to the line nearly two lengths to the good of Opawa Jack, with Crouch shading Freddie Time for third.
Latta was fighting back the emotion as she advised her charge had an angel on his shoulder for the contest.
“He is such a stable favourite and it is a really emotional win as Neville Thompson (part-owner) passed away three weeks ago,” Latta said.
“Neville just loved him and he would have been riding him home in the straight.
“It is great to get another win today as he looked fantastic and his work was as good as ever on Wednesday.
“He just loves Wellington, he got left alone and everything just went his way.”
Myers admitted that once she had He’s A Doozy relaxed outside the pace she started to feel confident he would be a big chance to figure in the finish.
“I was really happy with our spot as he is the sort of horse that just likes to roll along on his own,” she said.
“He was nice and relaxed and I could see the leader was under pressure on the turn and he (He’s A Doozy) still had plenty of petrol left.
“We were in the right spot and he was good enough to keep kicking strongly to the line.
“I was feeling confident as I couldn’t hear anyone, but not too far off the post he felt like he went to pump the brakes.
“Whether he was gawking around, which he shouldn’t at his age, I thought something might divebomb us but I knew they would have to be coming pretty quick and he deserved it so full credit (to him).”
Out of the O’Reilly mare The Dewdrop, He’s A Doozy has been a terrific performer for Latta who bought him for $70,000 from Phoenix Park’s draft in Book 1 of Karaka 2019.
He has now had 54 starts for 11 wins, nine placings and $821,025 in stakes.
