Racing: Rivals holding breath on Whisper

Spanish Whisper (inner) downs She s A Thief in the Matamata Breeders Stakes on Saturday. Photo / Trish Dunell

Peter and Dawn Williams will please rival trainers if they play the waiting game with Spanish Whisper.

The husband and wife team produced the daughter of Lope De Vega for a hard-fought victory in Saturday's Gr.2 J Matamata Breeders' Stakes (1200m) and they are undecided on a start in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie in a fortnight.

"We'll play it by ear whether we go there or not," Peter Williams said. "She's going to be a better three-year-old."

A debut winner in December, the filly then finished runner-up behind the subsequent Karaka Million (1200m) winner Avantage in mid-January.

Spanish Whisper made the running and was hotly challenged by She's A Thief 200m from home with just a nose separating them at the post.

"She jumped well enough and then had to work hard to get to the front, the whole length of the back straight," rider Vinnie Colgan said.

"She relaxed a bit across the top and then fought hard, she beat a good horse today."

She's A Thief also had to work hard from the outside gate to get close to the pace and was tenacious in the straight. "She was very brave, you can't ask any more really," co-trainer Pam Gerard said. "She's got a fantastic nature and she's getting better all the time."

Spanish Whisper and She's A Thief had the finish to themselves with The Real Beel two and three-quarter lengths back in third.

• Good things come to those who wait as the connections of Devise found at Hastings on Saturday.

A multiple black type placegetter, the mare broke through at the highest level when triumphant in the Gr.1 Haunui Farm WFA Classic (1600m).

"She really does deserve this," trainer Shaune Ritchie said. "It was a bit easier without Bonneval here, she's been a bridesmaid to her a couple of times.

"It helped that a few of the favoured runners drew wide, but I'm delighted for the horse. She always puts in and she's a lovely mare."

Runner-up to the sidelined Bonneval in last season's Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m), Devise was given an economical trip behind the pace by Michael Coleman who brought her with a well-timed run in the straight.

"It was a beautiful ride, he put her in the right place and it's a terrific result," Ritchie said.

A half-sister to the multiple Group Two winner Zurella, Devise is a daughter of Darci Brahma and is raced by her breeders The Oaks Stud.

Devise's breakthrough Group One victory came at the expense of Consensus with Travimyfriend third ahead of Brilliant Shine and Start Wondering, who covered extra ground from his outside gate.

"There was good speed and she travelled up peaches and cream before I let her rip," Coleman said.

Devise completed a memorable day for the stable following Excalibur's success in the St Leger Trial (2100m) ahead of a tilt at the Gr.1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m).

- NZ Racing Desk

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