Racing: Cup victory restores faith in Viz Vitae

Viz Vitae bounced back to winning form for Cambridge trainer Murray Baker when scoring a gallant victory in the $60,000 Marton Cup at Awapuni yesterday.

The highly-regarded 5-year-old raced lengths below his peak form during a dreadful spring campaign in Melbourne. Baker was adamant Viz Vitae was a much better horse than the one seen in Melbourne.

Viz Vitae underlined his return to peak form with an eye-catching, last-start performance to finish fifth behind Zarius in the City Of Auckland Cup at Ellerslie on January 1.

Leading Palmerston North-based jockey Bruce Herd was engaged to ride Viz Vitae in the listed event yesterday and produced a clinical riding display. Herd had Viz Vitae positioned just off the speed in the 2200m event and swept forward three and four wide on the home turn to challenge the leaders.

Herd timed his challenge to perfection and had Viz Vitae powering to the front with 100m remaining and fighting on in gritty fashion to win by a long neck over Lord Asterix and Prince Of Toffs (third).

"It was a great ride by Bruce because another jockey tried to push out underneath him in the straight and he pushed that horse back down into position then got out and running with Viz Vitae," said Baker.

"It was a real gutsy performance because he had to carry 57kg and he's not a big horse that is used to carrying weight.

"We've just put the whole trip to Melbourne behind us and with a bit of luck we could've won the City Of Auckland Cup.

"He races at his best when he has at least two to three weeks between each race. I had to late scratch him from a race at Te Rapa in early December and that meant he had to have back-to-back races at Ellerslie.

"Now we have got to make a decision about whether or not we press on for the Wellington Cup. A lot will depend on what weight he has to carry in the Wellington Cup.

"The Auckland Cup is the other option. It's going to be a tough decision because I think the field for the Auckland Cup this year could be a lot classier than the Wellington Cup field."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY