Consistent mare Kneeling held-off a fast-finishing Blackie to record a narrow victory in the 2014 Wangoom Handicap at Warrnambool this afternoon.
Kneeling (blue and white silks) wins the Wangoom Handicap at Warrnambool ahead of Magnus Reign in third. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia
Kneeling had not recorded a race win since she took out the XXXX Handicap (1300m) at the Sunshine Coast during the 2013 Queensland Winter Racing Carnival, but hit the front at the 200 metre mark in the Wangoom Handicap.
The five-year-old and looked as though she had the race wrapped up when she kicked clear from Magnus Reign in the final stages of the race, but 2013 Toorak Handicap placegetter Blackie stormed from the pack and looked as though he may have caught the daughter of Encosta De Lago on the line.
The official photo showed that Kneeling had clung on to score her second win at Listed level and Zac L’Hansen from the Peter Moody said that he was delighted to see the mare pick up another feature race win with regular stable jockey Linda Meech on board.
“She just got pipped last start at Caulfield in a photo so it was good to get the win on the board today for the boss,” L’Hansen said.
“Linda done a power of work at home and it is really nice to get another win for her as well.”
Meech has been a regular visitor to Warrnambool for their feature racing carnival and was clearly thrilled to pick up a victory in one of the biggest events across the three days of the popular carnival.
The rising jockey said that she went into the race full of confidence, after riding Kneeling in trackwork last week, and was fairly sure that she had hung on to win the Wangoom Handicap despite the late charge from Blackie.
“I did my apprenticeship at Stawell, so I have had plenty of practice on these western districts tracks, and it is a huge thrill,” Meech said.
“I rode her at work last Tuesday and she worked the house down; I would have declared her in any other race.
“A big thank you to Peter Moody for putting me on her and I am just so excited.
“It worked out perfect.
“I was a bit worried that I might get cluttered up on the fence, but nobody wanted to be there and she handles it and she just gave me a great kick at the top of the straight.
“I thought that I had won, but I didn’t want to count my chickens.”
Meech will combine with Peter Moody again tomorrow when she rides Vatuvei in the Listed Warrnambool Cup (2350m).
