Fromelles was ridden in the Hastings feature by Chris Dell, but Lisa Allpress had been aboard the Savabeel mare in her two lead-up runs, the first of which was a win over 1600m at Trentham. And when Allpress got the opportunity to ride Fromelles on Saturday she jumped at the opportunity.
"Actually it was me that talked Sarge into running her in the Hawke's Bay Cup," said Allpress. "She had been unlucky at Awapuni in the fillies' and mares' race. She should definitely have run third.
"I told Sarge I felt she would be better off in a handicap and the Hawke's Bay Cup could suit her."
After paying up for the Hawke's Bay Cup, Fromelles was left on the ballot list and that resulted in Allpress taking another ride and Dell picking up the mount on Sargent's mare.
"I thought it was a good run in the Hawke's Bay Cup and I gave her a big chance today," said Allpress after Saturday's victory. "She had to be a top chance with her light weight [53kg]. And in the race she was always travelling beautifully. In the end she won well."
No certain immediate plans have been made for Fromelles.
"I think she was going out for a spell, but seeing as she won so well maybe Sarge will keep her going a bit longer. She'll be a really nice staying mare."
Sum Up did well to finish second, coming from midfield and wide to get past Arcenciel in the final stages. Arcenciel held third, a long neck from Sum Up, while Desert Lad ran a bold race for fourth and Waipukurau visitor Intransigent did well for fifth after settling last.
Indikator, winner of the past two Rotorua Cups, failed to handle the sticky track, according to rider Reese Jones. "He was in trouble with a round to go." If it had kept raining he would have loved it, but, unfortunately for us, the weather cleared up."
Postman's Daughter was also unplaced with rider Craig Grylls believing she could be feeling the effects of a tough campaign.
Cambridge trainer Murray Baker pulled the right rein when he opted to start Oak Park in the Listed $50,000 Windsor Park Stud Rotorua Stakes.
Baker had the Australian-bred filly also entered for the Marks Ewen and Association Three-Year-Old event, won by Jubilate.
"This was the race Murray really wanted to run her in," said Baker's stable foreman Andrew Forsman. "With a filly like her you want to get black type. We were not sure whether she was up to it, but it was a chance to find out."
Oak Park was on the ballot list for the fillies' and mares' feature, but scratchings enabled her to sneak into the field and Lisa Cropp ensured she had every chance.
Cropp settled Oak Park just off the pace and pushed her through a gap in the straight to grab victory by a half head from Zennista, who ran on strongly down the outside.
Fleur de Lune was courageous when finishing third, a short head behind Zennista.
"She didn't like the sticky ground, but she never stopped trying," said rider Jason Jago. "I thought she was gone on the turn."
Sacha fought on well for fourth with Acapela and Shahbab the next couple.
Earlier on the programme, credit was paid to former jockey Leanne Isherwood after Fastnfree upset punters when scoring a local win in the Olsen Forest Management 1560.
Fastnfree, a 6-year-old daughter of Shinko King, is trained on the Arawa Park track by Bill Pomare, who is also a part-owner of the under-rated mare. And after the race Pomare's wife, Suzi, heaped praise on Isherwood for helping to get Fastnfree back to form.
"Leanne is staying with us and she has helped a lot with the horses and also given some advice on riding," said Suzi Pomare, who holds an amateur rider's license.
Fastnfree had picked up five wins from 57 starts going into last Saturday's event and was a pick-up ride for Sam Spratt after Lisa Allpress had initially been declared for the mare.
"That's the second pick--up ride I've won on in the last couple of days," said Spratt. "When I found out I was on her I thought she could go well.
"She went a good race two starts ago when Lisa Cropp rode her at Tauranga. That was against Shez Sinsational."
