The Robert Smerdon trained Olympic Win only had a head to spare when leading throughout in the Sandown Cup (3200m).
Taken to the front by jockey Mark Zahra, the Montjeu gelding opened up a break mid-race thus making the Cup a true staying test.
The tactics were employed on the six-year-old as his staying prowess was well known after his good fourth in the Group 3 Adelaide Cup (3200m) in March behind Muir.
Race favourite Norsqui followed Olympic Win’s every step and the pair opened up a four length break on Crafty Cruiser and Our Serena which was closed coming to the home turn when Zahra gave Olympic Win a breather.
Coming around the turn Olympic Win, Norsqui and Crafty Cruiser were three abreast with Our Serena lurking behind.
Olympic Win kicked away at the 300m before Our Serena finished strongly in the final 100m.
Olympic Win ($4) defeated Our Serena ($8.50) by a head with Norsqui ($2.60 fav) another length and a quarter away third.
Smerdon a long time fan of staying and jumps races loved what he watched.
“I thought it was terrific, a good spectacle when they raced near the jumping course (in the back straight) and it was a good outcome for us,” Smerdon said.
“We were looking at this race (for Olympic Win) all the way through.
“He looked really relaxed in front today, he just bowled along and out whacked them.”
“He has stood up when he needed to.”
Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | OLYMPIC WIN (NZ) | Robert Smerdon | Mark Zahra | 3 | 57kg | $4 | |
2 | 4 | OUR SERENA | Pat Carey | Craig Williams | 0.2L | 6 | 54.5kg | $8.50 |
3 | 1 | NORSQUI | Walter McShane | Chris Symons | 1.45L | 10 | 57kg | $2.60F |
4 | 5 | CRAFTY CRUISER | Bryce Stanaway | Ms Lisa Cropp | 1.65L | 2 | 54.5kg | $26 |
5 | 6 | JUMPIN JACK CASH | Patrick Payne | Ms Michelle Payne | 2.9L | 4 | 54.5kg | $6 |
6 | 3 | REPRISAL | David Hayes | Brenton Avdulla | 5.9L | 7 | 55kg | $9.50 |
7 | 7 | DEBECCA | Stephen Hutchinson | Craig Newitt | 7.65L | 1 | 54.5kg | $61 |
8 | 10 | MORNING RAID (NZ) | Robbie Laing | Dean Yendall | 11.15L | 5 | 54.5kg | $61 |
9 | 8 | AFFINIS | Terry Carson | Jarrod Todd | 15.4L | 9 | 54.5kg | $71 |
10 | 9 | CAPRIEV | Martin Stein | Cameron Quilty | 30.4L | 8 | 54.5kg | $151 |