Five To Midnight (NZ) Triumphs in Waikato Cup

Consistent big-race performer Five To Midnight (NZ) (Domesday) claimed the biggest win of his career in Saturday’s $100,000 Group 3 Skycity Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m) at Te Rapa, lifting his prize-money earnings to almost double his purchase price at Karaka.

The Lisa Latta-trained gelding’s biggest win before Saturday had come in the Listed Hawke’s Bay Gold Cup (2200m), but he had placed in the Group 2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m) and the Group 3 City of Auckland Cup (2400m), Counties Cup (2100m), Manawatu Cup (2300m) and Manawatu Classic (2000m). He had also finished fourth in the Group 2 Avondale Cup (2400m) and fifth in the Group 1 Auckland Cup (3200m).

He would not be denied the Group 3 spoils on Saturday, capitalising on an excellent ride from Leith Innes and bursting to the lead in the home straight. Promise To Reign (Manhattan Rain) and Zambezi Warrior (NZ) (Pentire) challenged him strongly in the last 200 metres, but Five To Midnight held them out by a long neck.

Five To Midnight has now won six of his 27 starts, earning $272,710 for owners Kamada Racing.

“He got the gun run today and he’s a horse with a good turn of foot,” said Latta, who paid $165,000 to buy him from The Oaks Stud’s draft at the 2014 Select Sale.

“It’s great for Kevin Pratt (Kamada Racing owner), he puts a lot into the game.”

Out of the winning Fastnet Rock mare Fastnet Lady, Five To Midnight was bred by The Oaks Stud who will offer a half-sister by Roc de Cambes at Book 2 in Karaka 2018.