Cover image courtesy of Clear Mountain Fairview
Written by Paul Vettise
Wapiti (Love Conquers All) looked to be down and out in Saturday’s G3 Winx Guineas before he raised a second effort to land the most significant winning blow of his career.
The Jack Duncan-trained 3-year-old was making his black type debut on his home Sunshine Coast track and looked most likely to finish runner-up when clearly headed in the straight, but came off the ropes to claim the title.
Wapiti has fashioned a tidy record with three wins from his 11 outings and a further four placings emphasises his genuine nature.
“It was a top win and he’s had a lot of outside barriers or he would have an even better record," Duncan said. “He’s never run a bad race in his life. Everything I have asked him to do he has responded to."
Wapiti jumped well from a wide gate to sit in second spot and one off the rail and rider Sean Cormack took him to the front 300 metres off the post.
Spirited comeback
His stablemate Love Express (Love Conquers All) came at him strongly and then the Tony Gollan-trained Knight Mariner (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) looked like he was set for victory when he hit the front, but Wapiti wasn’t done with and rallied strongly for a 0.5l victory.
“I thought Love Express had him for a while, and I gave him a good chance too, and then the other one so it was a good effort,” Duncan said.
Wapiti’s previous run for second had been over a middle distance at Doomben and Duncan felt that may have stood him in good stead in the battling finish."
Love Conquers All, sire of Wapiti | Standing at Clear Mountain Fairview
Bred by Carolyn Hickey, Wapiti is a son of Lucky Dubai (Dubai Destination {USA}) who was a smart mare and winner of nine races up to 1600 metres.
Black type performers are scarce in the pedigree in the first two generations, but a headline act appears under the third dam in the form of the former champion sprinter and G1 Golden Jubilee S. winner Fayr Jag (Ire) (Fayruz {GB}).
Golan was more than happy with Knight Mariner’s performance on an unsuitably wet track while the top-rated runner in the field Star Of Michelin (Jet Spur) made late ground from the back for fourth and was less than 2l off the winner.
