Wall Street Wins Thorndon Mile
- Saturday, 30 January 2010 13:37
Wall Street (5 B. G. Montjeu – Villa Wanda, by Grand Lodge) confirmed his class while exhibiting his potential with a group one victory in the $200,000 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m) on Saturday at Trentham racecourse in Wellington.
When his lead up run in the group one Telegraph Handicap over 1200 metres at Trentham last Saturday almost ended in tears when he nearly fell in the straight, it appeared his Thorndon aspirations could have been vanquished as well, sentiments echoed by his trainer, Jeff Lynds.
Lynds said, “It was a little bit disappointing after the Telegraph, but in the last couple of days I thought ‘you’re there’.”
Prior to the Telegraph, Wall Street had been given a let-up following his group two success in the Coupland’s Bakeries Mile at Riccarton on November 11, and he went into the two starts at Trentham with heavy backing in each.
But carnage struck when he clipped heels and blundered, losing all chance in the Telegraph.
Rider Buddy Lammas said of the mishap, “I thought we would have won the Telegraph. He was travelling better or at least as well as the winner when he was checked to last and it was just because he tries so hard that he found like he did for ninth.”
And it was courage of the same nature that enabled his Thorndon success.
Beyond midfield and three wide with cover, Wall Street came from twelfth at the 800 metres and seven lengths from the leader at the 600 before ranging wide on the home turn.
He levelled to challenge a furlong out and kept up a powerful gallop to score by half a length from Tavistock, to provide their sire, Montjeu, with the quinella.
Mill Duckie did well to overcome her wide draw to finish a long head away in third, while Tell A Tale who was a distant last and given a couple of cracks with the whip in the early part, staged an enormous performance to claim fourth, a half neck back.
Run at genuine pace, the time of 1:33.86 posted by Wall Street was the third fastest in the last twenty years of the race.
Lammas said, “He was a bit flat early and I was four back three wide with cover, but once balanced in the straight he found plenty. He was coming to the end of it near the line and I knew they would be coming from the back.”
Proud of his charge, Lynds said, “This is a tremendous thrill. I think we’ve seen today he’s a pretty good racehorse. Even after just his second trial I thought ‘I’ve got something here’.”
“He’s a lovely horse and it’s a great thrill for the owners. His potential is untapped and I look forward to getting him ready for Australia.”
Lynds had said following his success in the Coupland’s Mile that he would like to target the $3m Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in October with Wall Street.
Prior to, Wall Street is likely to have his next start in the group one weight-for-age race over a mile at Otaki on February 28, before stepping up in distance for the group two Awapuni Gold Cup over 2000 metres on April 3.
Purchased as a yearling by Paul Moroney for $100,000 at the 2006 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale, Wall Street ended up in the Awapuni stable of Lynds following a visit to nearby Massey University for veterinary attention, and the star galloper has remained in the Central Districts for owners G G Syndicate Ltd, G K V Holdings Ltd & M A Head.
Wall Street has won seven of his eleven starts for earnings of $327,400.
