A well-executed plan at Ellerslie resulted in Diesel upsetting his lower grade staying rivals on New Year's Day.
Rider Alysha Collett made all the running aboard the Electronic Zone seven-year-old in the Dunstan Feeds Stayers Championship Final (2200m) and they had enough in reserve the claim the major part of the $100,000 stake. "I've been riding him a bit in trackwork and I got the feeling he was better out in front and travelling," she said.
Diesel revelled in his role and Collett kicked him well clear on the turn and, although the gelding was tiring close to home, they held on to beat Savapak and Magic Chai.
Although Diesel had won his previous start at Te Rapa and his form boasted success on rain-affected going, he flew under the radar and was sent out at odds of 16-1.
The Shaun and Emma Clotworthy-trained galloper is raced by the Matijasevich family under their Markwood Lodge banner. "We had two horses in, we thought we had a chance," Andrew Matijasevich said. "It's an unbelievable feeling." Their other runner Model Aye came from the tail of the field to finish fourth.
