If you read posts on this site regularly, you’ll recall that back in January I mentioned that our recommended purchase Dee and Gee had just broken the Wingatui 2200 record with a time of 2:13.25. I pointed out that this was a remarkable performance as the undulating nature of the course really does mitigate against the fastest times being recorded there. The best time ever recorded in New Zealand was Caruba’s 2:12.5 at Trentham, back in 1978.
Caruba’s record still stands but El Gladiador, one of our recommended matings, went within a breath of setting new national figures yesterday. The son of Ghibellines had won the Dunedin Guineas earlier in his career but had since indicated that he really needed a strong pace to show his best form. On Sunday, he got just that and stormed home to win by the best part of a length in a stunning 2:12.58 – highly likely to be the second fastest time ever recorded for 2200 metres in New Zealand racing history.
And there’s more. On both occasions, the runner-up was our homebred Riviera Rock. Superbly ridden by Lee Callaway, his front-running style was the making of the race. His 2:12.73 is almost certainly the third-fastest 2200 time recorded here.
Not bad for a quirky, cantankerous individual who has a strong preference for doing things his way. He’s often tested Graham and Michael Eade’s patience, but their amazing horsemanship has been responsible for his success.
