Racing: Stakes victory validates rejection of $500,000 offer

The rejection of a $500,000 offer for Wahid was looking a good move after he won the $100,000 Wakefield Challenge Stakes.

Taranaki trainer Allan Sharrock revealed after the win in the group two race for two-year-olds that an offer had been made for Wahid after he won his debut at Trentham on December 4.

Sharrock said Taranaki owners, brothers Ron and Noel Stanley, turned down the offer with little debate.

"To the Stanleys' credit they took a punt on this one," Sharrock said.

The Stanleys, dairy and pig farmers, a few years ago sold top two-year-old Grout for $1 million to Hong Kong interests and are also the owners of capable stayer Woburn.

Grout completed the Group One double for two-year-olds in the Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes and the Ellerslie Sires' Produce Stakes but Sharrock said Wahid had acceleration and would get over more ground.

Wahid posted a good time of 1 minute 8.6 seconds for the 1200m yesterday which Sharrock said Grout would not been capable of as a two-year-old.

Sharrock said he could tell the way Wahid relaxed during the running the Almutawakel gelding would get over more ground.

"He raced liked a stayer - off the bit. He was never charging, he just flops. You wouldn't get a more relaxed horse. He's a beauty."

Sharrock said Wahid would now be prepared for the $500,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Classique (1200m) for two-year-olds at Te Rapa on February 5.

Wahid, ridden by Leith Innes, trailed the leaders and once into the clear and balanced, he finished too strongly to score by 2 3/4 lengths.

Second was Mi Jubilee by half a head from Irish Nova who fought well near the end.

- NZPA