The much-vaunted Agua Caliente registered one of the best runs of his career when storming to victory in the $25,000 Firestone Free-For-All at Addington yesterday.
Agua Caliente has long been touted as one of the most talented pacers in New Zealand but injuries along with an aversion to standing start races and travelling have often brought about defeats.
The Vance Hanover eight-year-old gelding, trained in Auckland by Peter Wolfenden, yesterday notched his 23rd win but it was his first outside the Auckland or Waikato districts.
Wolfenden's son, Glen, who drove the horse yesterday, said a key to Agua Caliente's win had been access to an equine swimming pool while in Christchurch.
"Even at home, it (the swimming) just turns him around," said Glen Wolfenden.
"The travelling just used to stress him out."
Wolfenden settled Agua Caliente, a $2.35 favourite, towards the back of the 10-horse field today and bided his time until inside the last 600m. He followed the second favourite Stars And Stripes forward but surged past him in the straight to score by half a length. Ouch ran into second with 2-1/4 lengths to Stars And Stripes, third.
"He just felt super today," Wolfenden said.
Agua Caliente was not an acceptor for the $350,000 New Zealand Trotting Cup. The 3200m of the cup would not have suited Agua Caliente in his first start for six weeks and the standing start was another negative, Wolfenden said.
However he will likely come up against many of the cup horses on Friday in the $100,000 New Zealand Free-For-All (2000m) at Addington. The $A300,000 ($NZ400,000) Miracle Mile (1760m) at Harold Park in Sydney the following Friday night could also be a possibility.
"He would run a nice mile," Wolfenden said.
Franco Heir extended his unbeaten record to four when taking out the $150,000 NRM Sires' Stakes Final (1950m).
His owner, Melbourne financier Bob Proberts said he made an offer of $200,000 for Franco Heir but that was declined. He replied with another offer of $250,000 which was successful.Yesterday's winning stake of $81,000 took Franco Heir's career earnings to $91,000.
His His next target will be the $100,000 Great Northern Derby at Alexandra Park on December 22.
- NZPA
Racing: Pool helps Agua Caliente make mark
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