Racing: Change of luck arrives at right time

John Sargent was confident of winning yesterday's $50,000 King's Plate with Bhandara until he focused on where the race was run.

"This mare has had no luck at all here at Ellerslie," said Sargent, after Bhandara made the weight-for-age opposition look as though they were in a different class.

"She was nearly put over the running rail then last start she got caught wide.

"She just hadn't been able to get any luck here."

Yesterday was a nice time to change that.

Sargent said he was learning a lot about Bhandara.

"She goes her best races when fresh and she won't race again until the Thorndon Mile."

Bhandara was ridden by Melbourne jockey Rhys McLeod, who won the $500,000 Mercedes Classique on Successor for Sargent at Te Rapa in February.

Bhandara won by four lengths and McLeod said the Zabeel mare would not be out of her depth in suitable Australian races.

Sargent said that after the Thorndon Mile on January 29 he would decide whether to take Bhandara to the Sydney or Queensland carnivals.

There were plenty of hard luck stories behind the winner, despite the winning margin.

Jason Laking was not saying he would have beaten the winner on runner-up The Jewel, but said he would have finished a lot closer had he not been blocked for racing room in the home straight.

The Jewel worked into a gap very late and finished strongly.

"She only got galloping from the 200m," said Laking.

"If I'd have been able to be where the winner was it would have made a big difference to her.

"She's definitely going to be better for that race and definitely better suited to the 2000m of the Zabeel Classic on the last day."

Her trainer Hec Anderton said The Jewel was taking longer to find her form as a 5-year-old.

Michael Walker was bullish about Lashed, even though the mare finished eighth.

"She'll win the Zabeel Classic," he said as he put his saddle back in his locker.

Lashed was at the back of the field and appeared to have little racing room in the home straight when improving.

"It was pretty tight behind that wall of horses," said Walker.

Lashed won the Zabeel Classic a year ago and it would be an appropriate double because this time she has a little Zabeel inside her.

Bridie Belle, who seems to be becoming the unlucky horse of northern racing, was another held up behind horses.

"She got a bit of a knock from Alleyrun on the home bend and never saw a gap at any stage of the home straight," said Allan Peard.

"She felt really good."