Racing: Race won long way from home

Darryl Bradley had a chuckle to himself with 700 metres remaining in the $50,000 Taranaki Cup at New Plymouth yesterday.

Bradley was riding Our Fuji and this combination was allowed to make their own rules in front in the Group Three event run over 2000 metres.

Our Fuji increased the pressure on his rivals over the closing 700 metres and fought on gallantly in the home stretch to win by a half length over the fast closing Mistrale with a further long neck back to Van Winkle (third).

"If you let this horse have his way in front he's very tough to run past because he loves to roll along and his style of racing is to grind the sprint finish out of the opposition," said Bradley.

"We were given an easy time in front and I really put the pressure on the field from the 700 metre marker and he was trucking along nicely down the home straight.

"I've had five or six rides on this horse and I've won four races on him and he's the sort you like to team up with on race day because he's genuine.

"I could hear the second horse [Mistrale] unwinding out wide over the closing stages of the race but we had them well covered at the finish.

"This was a great training performance from Peter and Nikki Hurdle because this horse last raced on March 5 over 1400 metres and had to be late scratched from his last start at Otaki because the track was too heavy.

"He's come out a month after having his last start and jumped from 1400 metres to 2000 metres on a testing track and handled everything that has been thrown at him."

Mistrale recorded the run of the race coming well off the pace to finish within a half length of the front running winner.

She appears to be on target for a possible winter racing campaign in Queensland.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY