Haddle McDaddle Wins Balaklava Cup
- Wednesday, 01 September 2010 11:53
Nine-year-old gelding Haddle McDaddle won the $80,000 Listed Malaysia Airlines/Advertiser Balaklava Cup (1600m) on Wednesday to continue an amazing run for the Payne family in South Australia.
Trainer Andrew Payne notched up the feature race win with the aid of sister Michelle who was in the saddle.
Earlier this year, brother Patrick clinched South Australia’s premier jumps race, the Great Eastern Steeplechase (4950m) with It’s A Dud, a month after providing the quinella of the Adelaide Cup with Capecover defeating Kerdem.
Wednesday’s Balaklava meeting was well attended, with a crowd over 16,000 making the two hour trip north of Adelaide, but marred by an inside-biased track.
As a result, several riders were keen to obtain the lead at all costs with a line of five including Bonindi, Orchestra Stalls and Steel My Heart charging towards the first turn.
When the field turned for home, the leaders were quickly collared by Silent Sophia who dashed to the front only to be overhauled by Haddle McDaddle in the final 100 metres.
Haddle McDaddle ($8.50) defeated Silent Sophia ($31) by 1-1/4 lengths with Xaieta ($7) a further short head away in third.
Even Adam ($15) flew from last to finish fourth while Orchestra Stalls ($4.20 fav) boxed on tenaciously for fifth.
Wednesday’s victory underlines an amazing return to form for the son of Strategic who prior to winning at Sandown last month five weeks ago had not won a race since August 2007.
Haddle McDaddle has won three of his last four starts and accumulated over $120,000 in that period.
He now boasts a record of eight wins and 17 placings from 52 starts for over $360,000 in earnings.
Picture: Colin Bull
