Racing: Veteran takes out $200k Zabeel

Authentic Paddy wins the Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie yesterday. Photo / Michael Craig

Group One is the Everest of race riding, but remarkable as it seems Trudy Thornton had no idea when she'd last been successful at that level after winning yesterday's $200,000 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic on Authentic Paddy.

"I have no idea. I don't take records. I wake up each morning and turn the page. I don't look back."

On a day when you needed to be on-pace and close to the rail longshot Authentic Paddy led throughout to take yesterday's feature, paying $22.60 for the win.

That might be taking too much credit away from the 8-year-old veteran, who is the favourite horse of all those who come into contact.

"He's a lovely horse, just a pleasure to ride," said the veteran Thornton, having her first ride on the winner of 10 previous races.

"He knows his job and is totally professional, he's a darling."

Thornton, with a big heart, but tough as teak, had a fan club waiting for her to clear the scales. It included daughter Samantha Collett, niece Alysha Collett, Matamata jockey Anna Jones and a host of very vocal fans.

Strapper Miranda Duthie loves Authentic Paddy so much she cried almost the entire way through a Trackside television interview.

Duthie is a former employee of master trainer Colin Jillings. "He's always been my favourite horse and I was determined to get a Group 1 with him this season," she said filling in for absent trainer Lisa Latta, who had a stack of winners at Awapuni yesterday. "It's just an absolute buzz," Latta said. "He's a lovely horse and he so deserved that."

A telling statistic of the Zabeel was that pretty much not one horse passed another in the home straight, almost unprecedented in such races. Lizzie L'Amour, second throughout, fought hard for second and Volkstok'n'barrell held his place for third.

Consensus fought well for fourth from its same position in running ahead of Benzini and Stolen Dance. Hiflyer got back and never looked a chance to improve her position.

This would have been a magical moment for Sir Patrick Hogan to win his race with his own horse, but he watched the replay on the big infield screen, turned and walked away and said with dignity and not a trace of bad sportsmanship: "Yes, that's racing."

What the jockeys said ...

1st Authentic Paddy Trudy Thornton: It was another brave effort from a real warhorse. Its great to see him win and be aboard.

2nd Lizzie L'Amour Matthew Cameron: It was a huge run considering she only raced 10 days ago. She is on the way up.

3rd Volkstok'n'barrell Leith Innes: He went super. The track cutting up just didn't help us.

4th Consensus Mick Dee: We had a good run in transit. She pulled out like she would go bang but just whacked.

5th Benzini Rosie Myers: He ran home really well. They went slow up front and that just didn't help us back markers.

6th Stolen Dance Jason Waddell: It was just an honest run.

7th Sofia Rosa Danielle Johnson: She just doesn't help herself.

8th Hiflyer Jonathan Parkes: The shower of rain probably didn't help and back to 1600m will better suit.

9th Chance To Dance Opie Bosson: He was very disappointing. He travelled nice and never kicked.

Last Endean Rose Cameron Lammas: She is just racing like a tired horse.