Maygrove too tough in SsangYong Counties Cup
As tough as teak stayer Maygrove produced a never say die effort to take out the Gr. 3 Ssangyong Counties Cup (2100m) in a thrilling four-way finish.
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman trained grey had to lump
the equal topweight of 60 kilograms and give weight to all bar stablemate Saint
Emilion in the Pukekohe Park feature, a fact that had his connections concerned
about just how effective he could be in the contest.
"I rang Lib before the race and told him he would have to
bring him home for a jumping horse for his son, who loves his equestrian, as we
didn’t expect him to win with the weight,” said Bruce Perry, speaking on behalf
of owner Lib Petagna, after the race.
"He’s just so game, he’s brilliant.
"At one stage Murray wasn’t going to come here as the horse
doesn’t like going this way around, but we thought the good thing would be he
might run some rating points off which would make him competitive next time.”
Despite the dire predictions class shone through as
Maygrove, aided by a gun ride from Johnathan Parkes, produced his very best to
down Five To Midnight by a short head with local galloper Promise To Reign just
a long head away in third from the fast finishing Francis Drake who finished a similar
margin away in fourth.
"He’s a great horse, great for the public and just great for
everyone,” said Perry.
"Lib is watching down in Wellington. He tried to come up but
couldn’t make it. This one makes up for Francaletta who only just got beaten
earlier today.”
Parkes, who is unbeaten in two rides on the horse having
taken the Listed Feilding Gold Cup (2100m) at his last start, had plenty of
admiration for his charge’s effort.
"He’s a cracker horse isn’t he having to carry the 60
kilograms,” he said.
"From the jump the pace was on, so I managed to get him to
fall asleep down the back straight and all the gaps came nicely as we headed
into the run home.
"He’s been headed about 100 metres out, but he’s kept giving
in a super effort. He’s just a good old warhorse.”
The win was Maygrove’s ninth career victory with five having
come at stakes level including the Gr. 2 Wellington Cup in 2015 and Gr. 2
Awapuni Gold Cup last year. – NZ Racing Desk