By MIKE DILLON
Forty-five-year-old Noel Harris took a long drag on a cigarette in the jockeys' room and said: "Do you think I'm being rewarded for patience?"
In the space of 14 months the group one-winning jockey has won his first Derby, first McDonogh (Railway) Stakes and his first New Zealand Cup.
"I've waited a while, that's what I call patience."
Patience is what this win was all about.
It is difficult to place a topline sprinter well in New Zealand and Canterbury trainer Neil Coulbeck's management ad placement of Fritz have been outstanding.
He has won both New Zealand's group one sprints, the Telegraph Handicap and yesterday's McDonogh, and waived the opportunity for greater gain to achieve this latest goal.
Harris' first ride on Fritz was when winning the Telegraph in January last year.
"After that I thought he was a natural to run in the Waikato Draught Sprint at Te Rapa, but Neil said: "No, let's wait."
"That's patience."
Coulbeck was at it again when he withdrew Fritz from the Stewards Handicap at Riccarton in November, the last leg of a $100,000 bonus, for which he had won the first two legs.
Coulbeck did not come north for the race and last night said from his Canterbury base that Fritz's McDonogh handicap had been a major influence in not running at Riccarton.
Harris was far from confident he would win the McDonogh on the home bend.
"He was travelling well, then he got carted wide by another runner and I thought: "Oh no, not with his 58kg, he can't handle that."
"I had to use him twice, once to balance up again properly, the second to go out after O'Malleys Boy.
"Under the 58kg it was a top effort."
Harris had special praise for Fritz.
"I said before the race that if he could win with that weight, you would have to start thinking of him in the same vein as Mr Tiz.
The former O'Sullivan-trained Mr Tiz is the benchmark by which New Zealand sprinters are compared.
"I rode Mr Tiz only the once. I won a 2-year-old race on him, which we lost in the judicial room, so I know how good he was.
"I rate Fritz in the same class."
Fritz was saddled by Coulbeck's wife Wendy.
O'Malley's Boy fought hard to add the McDonogh to his Concorde victory last month, but Fritz got him by a head.
Rider Leith Innes was thrilled with the third by Travellin' Man, who was close to last on the home bend.
"A huge performance, the track conditions helped beat him. He really flew into a gap when he cut loose.
"How can they beat him in the Telegraph at Trentham. He's better left-handed at this stage and that race will be ideal for him."
Favourite Cullen led quickly for Damien Oliver, but he wilted to ninth.
Racing: Patience proves major winner
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