Tavistock Takes Second Group One
- Saturday, 13 February 2010 06:15
Underrated galloper Tavistock will take on Group One company in Australia after winning the Waikato Draught Sprint at Te Rapa in Hamilton on Saturday.
Tavistock came from off the pace for jockey Jason Waddell to run down Wealth Princess at the end of the 1400m weight-for-age contest with last year's winner Mufhasa hanging on for third.
It was the Montjeu entire's second Group One of the season having won the Mudgway Stakes over 1400m at Hastings in August.
Trainer Andrew Campbell said Tavistock would now head to Melbourne for the Group One Futurity Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield in two weeks.
"We had thought about running in the other Group One here today (the International over 2000m)," Campbell said.
"But as we've decided to go for the Futurity Stakes we thought 1400 metres would be a better lead-in."
Tavistock was one of only two Group One weight-for-age winners in the Waikato Sprint field but went out at generous odds of more than $8 despite running second when giving weight to Wall Street in the Group One Thorndon Mile at Trentham at his last start.
Campbell said he thought Tavistock would eventually make a top horse over more than 1600m but was happy to keep him at shorter distances for the moment.
Waddell, who said he was thrilled to win another Group One for people who had been great supporters of his, will ride Tavistock in the Futurity.
