The bookies were cheering when New Zealand trained Veyron caused a major upset winning the Group 2 $175,000 Pro-Ride Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm today.
Veyron causes an upset win in the Warwick Stakes at Warwick Farm. Photo by Steve Hart.
The five time Group 1 winner was unwanted in the betting and was sent out at the good odds of $21 before scoring his first win on Australian soil.
Winning jockey Christian Reith was able to lift the eight year old over the concluding stages to nose out the heavily backed Streama who fought all of the way to the post under hard riding from Glen Boss.
The short priced favourite Rain Affair ($1.75) took up his customary role in front and after setting up a commanding lead mid race, couldn’t match it the first two placegetters over the final fifty metres.
Veyron was having his first run since finishing fifth at Ruakaka in July but was beaten less than two lengths when eighth to Pierro in the Group 1 $400,000 The Daily Telegraph George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on April 6.
And the start before he ran second to Cox Plate winner Ocean Park in the Group 1 NZ$200,000 New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on March 9.
Trainer Linda Laing was quietly confident going into today’s race and wasn’t surprised with the result.
“Definitely not (a surprise). I thought he was a certainty,” Laing said.
“It was just a shame last prep the he stood on something and got a blood blister in his foot, you definitely didn’t see the best of him.”
Laing will head Veyron towards the Group 2 $175,000 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on September 7 and the Group 1 $350,000 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on September 21.
And Laing said that she would nominate the multiple Group 1 winner for the Group 1 $500,000 The Star Epsom (1600m) at Randwick on October 5.
“I will nominate for the Epsom, but depending on what weight he gets,” Laing said.
Reith didn’t let Rain Affair and Streama get too far ahead in the middle stages and once in the clear in the straight found plenty under hard riding.
“He’s a good horse on his day,” Reith said.
“He only got beaten a bit over a length by Pierro and that kind of form coming here is good form, isn’t it.”
“He was a little bit out of his comfort zone, he’s a tough seasoned horse, you know they can keep going at that pace.”
Doomben Cup winner Beaten Up was the best of the Chris Waller’s six runners and caught the eye running home for fourth.
