KEY POINTS:
Ellerslie Racecourse has been a happy hunting ground for Cambridge trainer Bernard Dyke and he achieved further Group One glory yesterday.
When the rain hit Ellerslie, Dyke knew he had the equine athlete to handle the testing track conditions in the $200,000 First Sovereign Trust Champions Mile.
The Dyke-trained Floydeboy showed plenty of stamina and fight when it mattered in the home stretch to post a determined neck victory over Dezigna with a further 1 1/4 lengths back to Polish Princess (third).
Hot favourite Sir Slick battled into 12th position after racing three wide during the early stages of the race.
"This is the race we've had in mind for this horse for quite some time and everything fell into place for us with the rain arriving." said Dyke.
"This horse really likes racing here at Ellerslie, particularly when there is rain about to soften the track up. I'm not sure what I'll do with him now as he's getting up in the handicapping system. He can't win with any more than 55 and a half kilograms on his back. He's not a young horse so we may have to look at retiring him at the end of the season or turning him into a jumping racehorse."
Floydeboy's victory gave 83-year-old owner Morrie McDonald his first Group One win. McDonald, who suffered a stroke about 18 months ago, wasn't at the races because of illness.
The 7-year-old has been a handy performer for McDonald and Dyke scoring nine races from 52 starts and $340,000 in stake earnings.
Dyke may look at campaigning Floydeboy in Melbourne over the winter and spring racing, targeting a number of country cups races.
Floydeboy has scored three wins and four minor placings from 11 starts at Ellerslie.
Dyke shocked punters when producing longshot winner Star Harvest to take out the 1991 Auckland Cup and his stable runners always race well on the roomy right-handed track.
Gavin McKeon refused to panic during the early part of the $50,000 Network Visuals Champagne Stakes, despite the aggressive front-running tactics adopted by Samantha Spratt aboard Jacob.
Spratt and Jacob were a conservative 10 lengths clear of their rivals in the 1600m event while McKeon sat patiently back among the field with the favourite Valpolicella.
When McKeon asked the daughter of Red Ransom to lengthen stride in the home stretch the response was impressive and they reeled in the leader coasting to the line to win by 2 3/4 lengths.
Jacob held on gallantly for second, 1 3/4 lengths clear of impressive debut performer Kibbutz.
Valpolicella's trainer Roger James predicts a bold future next season.
"It's a pity there aren't more of these 1400 to 1600 metre races for 2-year-olds as this filly is bred to stay and she will get better as she steps up in distance racing.
"I'll tip her out now for a spell."
