South Island sprinter Enzo’s Lad scored the biggest win of his career when he beat home a crack field in today’s Group One Telegraph Handicap (1200m) at Trentham in New Zealand.
A $15,000 bargain buy for co-trainer Michael Pitman at the 2014 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, Enzo’s Lad held out the quality galloper Kawi for a strong win.
Also a graduate of the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, Enzo’s Lad is trained in partnership by Michael and Matthew Pitman with the latter beaming in the winner’s stall shortly after the race.
“There’s just no better feeling than this,” Matthew Pitman said. “He’s been up to the mark all the way through.”
“He struck a wet track (last start) and he can’t go on them,” Pitman said. “He’s got a great bunch of owners, all from Wellington, and it was their choice as much as ours to bring him up. This means the world to me.”
The win was a dream come true for apprentice Sam Weatherly – his first win at Group One level.
“Ever since I was a little kid, all I’ve wanted to do was be a jockey,” Weatherly said. “This is the main stage – to win a Group One.”
“And down here at Trentham in the Telegraph, it is a such a rich race as well.”
“I was very happy to be on him. He won the Pegasus in style and things just didn’t go right for him last start.”
“It was a very hot field but I knew if he had the luck we could do it and today we got the splits when we needed them.”
“What can I say, I’m over the moon,” Weatherly added.
A winner of five and seven times placed from just 20 runs, Enzo’s Lad is the fourth Group One winner for former Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Testa Rossa.
He is from the winning Catbird mare Sheerama – a half sister to Group Two winner Patpong and son of the stakes winning and Group One placed mare Rouquin.
Bred on Reavill Farm, Enzo’s Lad was sold on the Gold Coast in 2014 through the draft of Royston Stud.
Winner: Enzo’s Lad
Breeding: Testa Rossa-Sheerama (Catbird)
Race: WRC Telegraph Handicap G1 (1200m)
Sold for: $15,000
Sale: 2014 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale
Vendor: Royston Stud
Buyer: PR Stables
Earnings: NZ$231,200
Owner(s): NP Beban, PG Bentley, KN Bradley, SW Grant, J Jacobsen, P Murphy, MR Pitman & I & Mrs L Vibert
Trainer(s): Michael & Matthew Pitman
