Photo: Race Images - Peter Rubery)
Just two weeks ago veteran warhorse Waitak (Proisir) and progressive performer Tuxedo went head to head in a thrilling finish to the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Hastings with the decision at the winning post that day favouring Waitak by a short half-head.
Race fans didn’t have to wait long for a resumption of hostilities between the pair as they headed back to Hastings to tackle the jewel of the Spring triple crown, the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) a fortnight later.
Those who were hoping for a similar battle on the weekend got just what they wished for as when all was said and done, Waitak had made it five career Group One victories by defeating a brave Tuxedo once again after a knock-em-down, drag-em-out finish to the contest.
This time the winning margin was a neat length, however not many watching the race would have thought Waitak could run past Tuxedo in the final 100m after where they were both positioned turning for home.
Tardily away for rider Craig Grylls, Waitak managed to secure a midfield run on the fence as Hi Yo Sass Bomb became the surprise pacemaker in the event from South Islander Shaking Stevens.
In the meantime, Opie Bosson had Tuxedo trucking along beautifully one off the fence and two lengths ahead of his main rival before Grylls extracted his mount off the rail and into a position where he could at least track into contention approaching the home turn.
Bosson took the initiative on Tuxedo and hunted him to the lead after straightening for the run home, whereas Waitak was forced to come the widest runner in the field to begin his chase after his rival as Tuxedo burst to a clear lead.
Grylls wound up the champ and with three or four enormous bounds he claimed Tuxedo at the 50m and forged away as outsider Who Knows powered home to take third.
Grylls had picked up the other feature on the day aboard War Princess in the Gr.3 Timberspan Spring Sprint (1400m) and admitted the ride aboard Waitak wasn’t that pretty.
“It wasn’t the prettiest way of doing it and we got further back than I anticipated,” Grylls said.
“They were bunched up and across the top there was a bit of scrimmaging going on, so I thought I’d be better keeping him out in the open and rolling.
“I saw Tuxedo put a gap on us but at the 250m I was confident he was going to pick him up.”
Co-trainer Andrew Scott, who prepares the son of Proisir in partnership with Lance O’Sullivan, summed up the stable’s thoughts on the horse in one short sentence.
“He is our champion,” he said.
“We have spoken about him so much that there is not much left to say.
“Craig gave him a beautiful ride and Lance had called before the race to give the advice that it is cool heads that prevail in this type of race.
“Craig believed in the horse and he was so strong, just a warhorse.
“We were confident he would finish strong when you could see he was relaxed and that is when he finishes best.
“He stayed well and he has been so wonderful for us. This type of horse is just so hard to find, and we have a great team or good people around us to make this all happen.”
Bred by the late Colin Devine, and raced by his widow Jill, Waitak has now had 41 starts for ten wins, 11 placings and $2,343,237in prizemoney.
