The five-old gelding Willy Smith deservedly won the $300,000, Group I, Century City Developments Wellington Cup over 3200m, and another five-year-old gelding Sir Slick waltzed away with the $200,000, Group I, The Trusts Charitable Foundation Thorndon Mile over 1600m.

These Group I victories from a sire whose speciality has been in producing, in the main, sprinting types who manage up to the classic distance of 2400m, and who tend to show precocious ability. On Saturday, these two mature five-year-old's reached 3200m with ease with Willy Smith's case, and Sir Slick toyed with a good field of 1600m horses as he liked.

The Wellington Cup field was not of Group I standard for the 2007 running, and the result demonstrated this with Willy Smith, under a good ride by Matthew Cameron, winning by a half-neck over Mirkola Lass (Prized), followed by Everswindell (Align), the margin 3/4L. Envoy, Respect Far Away Places and Downwind followed 5L, 5 1/2L, 5 3/4L and 7 1/4L respectively from the winner.

The Paul Cave trained Respect, under Opie Bosson, showed at the top the straight after a good trip just behind the leaders, but it was then Willy Smith and Cameron, riding perfectly to trainer Mark Todd's instructions, who came to the front. Willy Smith carried 55kg over Mirkola Lass on 53.5kg and Everswindell on 53kg. Willy Smith paid $4.80.

It was a fitting reward for Todd, a double Olympic Games equestrian gold medallist, for his conditioning of the thoroughbred since his retirement from competing in eventing, and his second Group I at Trentham after his Oaks victory with Bramble Rose.

Todd is shortly to relocate to Rangiora in the South Island and to downsize his training. It is to be hoped that the consummate horseman keeps a couple ticking over.

He has tuned Willy Smith up well with a second over 2100m at Te Rapa on December 23rd, followed by another second over 2400m at Ellerslie on New Year's Day. A third was next in the weight-for-age at Trentham last Saturday behind Envoy, and then Todd knew he had his mount, owned by Mrs MK Hain and Mr M McPhail, in perfect condition for the 3200m distance.

Willy Smith is out of the Sound Reason mare Sound Lear, emphasizing again the contribution Sound Reason has made to New Zealand breeding. The Wellington Cup winner has raced just 26 times for six wins and eight placings, with stakes reaching $217,500.

Sir Slick was dominate over the excellent field in the Thorndon Mile and under Opie Bosson he fought off attackers to run way for a 1 1/4L win.

Pins ‘N' Needles (Pins) was second and Bonjour (Frenchpark) third, the margin a half-neck. The time was a good 1.34.20 and Sir Slick, carrying joint top-weight of 57kg, paid $5.80.

Sir Slick has had an excellent summer winning at Rotorua on November 18th and again at Trentham last Saturday, with a second and two thirds in between. Trained by Graeme Nicholson at Te Aroha he has now won 10 races from49 starts, and with 16 placings he has earned stakes of $493,650. Nicholson shares in the ownership, along with Mr BN Brown.

Sir Slick, out of the Paris Opera mare Miss Opera, was bred by Monovale Farm.

Bosson was the rider of the day winning four races. He commenced with the emerging He Kin Danske, made it a double in the race after on Reel Secret and then a treble with Princess Coup in the Group III Desert Gold Stakes. Sir Slick put the icing on the cake for a good day for the Matamata horseman.

Volksraad stands at Windsor Park Stud and his 2006 fee was $22,000, plus gst. He was the champion New Zealand sire in 2001/2, 2002/3, 2003/4 and 2004/5. The wins of Willy Smith and Sir Slick take Volksraad to second on the 2006/7 New Zealand sires table, with an intriguing contest over the rest of the season to come with current leader Pins.

© Thoroughbred News Media Partner Published 28/01/07