Racing: Money well placed on debut runner Wahid

Wahid was such a natural athlete that the two-year-old did not require the benefit of a barrier trial before his race debut at Trentham yesterday.

The Almutawakel-sired gelding gave his rivals a lesson in front running power when dashing over the 1000 metres of the two-year-old event like a seasoned veteran in the hands of jockey Hayden Tinsley.

Despite no previous racing experience, Wahid showed natural brilliance in the home stretch lengthening stride with ease for Tinsley to draw clear to win by 4 3/4 lengths over Governor Bois and Drovers Call.

This was a staggering debut performance from a two-year-old that is held in high regard by New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock.

"He's a very precocious type of two-year-old and we gave him three jump outs at home and he showed natural brilliance on each occasion," said Sharrock.

"I couldn't see the point in giving him a barrier trial before he raced as he was just a natural ready-made racehorse. We paid $50,000 for him at the Select Colt Yearling Sale and our target this season is the $500,000 Two-Year-Old race at Te Rapa in February.

"It's not often you get a two-year-old with the brilliance this fella has, so I'm really enjoying having him in the stable.

"There is a chance he may head to Ellerslie for the Eclipse Stakes but I'll have to sit down and consider all future racing options.

"Today's race was only a 1000 metre jump out but I have no doubt in my mind that he'll race competitively right up to 1600 metres."

Punters also shared the high regard Sharrock has for the two-year-old who was smashed into starting at $3.45 a win on the New Zealand TAB - despite not having had a barrier trial before his race debut.