Racing: Sedecrem leaves rivals gasping in wake

By MIKE DILLON

It was so appropriate the Queenslanders were at Te Rapa on Saturday.

They lined the fence to watch Sedecrem blow the opposition away in the group one $100,000 Waikato Draught Sprint.

It may not be the last fence they line to see the hugely talented Takanini sprinter-metric miler take a major race.

The Eagle Farm and Doomben executives were making their annual pilgrimage to entice topline New Zealand gallopers to the rich Queensland winter carnival.

They were talking to the converted at the Sedecrem camp, where long ago they had set their hearts on the A$1 million Stradbroke (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 12.

They did last year as well, but Sedecrem's well-documented foot problems led to a minor operation and the spelling paddock.

It would take something similar to stop owners Ernie Ward, Winston McDonald, Peter Walker and Colin Giltrap from getting some sun on their backs this June.

Some races suit some horses - Sedecrem and the Stradbroke are a match made in Heaven.

The phenomenal sprint Sedecrem produced to come from second-last on the home turn to win on Saturday is exactly what it takes to win a Stradbroke.

Every year Queensland's signature race is run at dizzying speed, suiting get-home horses.

Getting home off blinding speed is what Sedecrem was born to do.

That sprint even impresses the unimpressible Grant Cooksley.

"He's a good horse," said Cooksley after Saturday's headliner.

The Te Rapa crowd was well watered on Saturday.

At the same time the Queensland executives were plying their carnival hopefuls with liquid entertainment, Sedecrem's owners were shouting racegoers with $3000 of the race sponsor's product.

Being vocal in cheering Sedecrem home landed the shout for guests of local company Designer Homes.

"Peter [Walker] and I heard them yelling for the horse in the birdcage and decided to shout them and the crowd," said Ernie Ward.

Walker spent the entire race on his cellphone relaying the action to fellow owner McDonald on another cellphone in England.

"He was saying 'second last? what's he doing back there?' like I was going to be able to give him an answer."

Colin Jillings and Richard Yuill have done a magnificent job with Sedecrem and understandably have a real affection for him.

Sedecrem will tackle the $100,000 Family Hotel WFA at Otaki before a break, after which he will be set for the Stradbroke.

Plans for Lashed have still to be finalised after her stunning last-stride victory over Penny Gem in the $100,000 International Stakes.

The possibilities are the New Zealand Stakes at Ellerslie at the end of the month, the Australian Cup and or a Sydney campaign.

Co-trainer Stephen Autridge summed up the situation: "Rogey's got one lot of plans and Patrick's got another - I'll wait and see who wins."

Sir Patrick and Lady Justine Hogan cannot believe their luck in winning two group ones in three starts since Lashed returned from Graeme Rogerson's Australian stable.

The difference to broodmare value is enormous. Physically, Lashed looks better each time she goes to the races. She has clearly thrived under Autridge's care.

"I think that being able to rest in a paddock every day she has got rid of the small niggling problems she has had in the past.

"She used to just about refuse to jump out of the barrier and gallop, that's how sore she'd been."

Lashed looked spectacular in Saturday's parade, but Autridge said he had not known what to think about her chances in the race.

"Taatletail's been beating her brains in on the track all week.

"But Lashed is a raceday horse and Taatletail is an anytime horse."

When you have zillions of dollars you need something to crank you up and Patrick Hogan was full of it after Lashed's exciting victory.

Hogan loves a bit of one-upmanship and had been teasing fellow Cambridge breeder and race sponsor Tim Bodle for months that he planned on taking some of his money.

"This feels wonderful," Hogan told Bodle as he congratulated him.

Opie Bosson rode a cool race to land Lashed home, but he must have been a little concerned when the mare appeared to come off the bit near the 600m.

At that point Michael Coleman had a measure of confidence that Penny Gem would finally get the group one victory she deserves.

"She had a beautiful trip," said Coleman after what was a huge disappointment for the camp.

Penny Gem shot clear in the home straight and looked to have the race won.

"I could hear Lashed coming, but I thought we'd kicked hard enough to hold on. All credit to the winner," said Coleman graciously.

Another disappointment for Coleman was the three-day suspension he received earlier in the day which will sideline him for the Robin, Duke Of Bedford Stakes at Matamata on Saturday.

Old Kaapstad Way showed there was still some fire in the belly with his game third to the two mares.

Waikato Draught

* Sedecrem again showed how outstanding he is.

* Queensland's Stradbroke Handicap is now in the sights.

* Owners shout the crowd $3000 worth of beer.

* Lashed is heading to Australia.