Tiptronic (NZ) Derails Triple Crown Bid

It is often said that racing is a game of inches, and on Saturday at Te Rapa, it was one of those minuscule margins that ended the NZB Insurance Weight-for-Age Triple Crown hopes of True Enough (NZ) (Nom du Jeu).

The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained gelding had won the Group One Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, and Saturday’s $400,000 Group One Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) was his second step along the road to a possible $100,000 NZB Insurance Triple Crown Bonus.

But it was not to be, as True Enough came out on the wrong side of an epic duel down the home straight with Tiptronic (NZ) (O’Reilly).

The pair hit the lead together soon after the home turn, after Camino Rocoso (NZ) (Shocking) had opened up a huge lead of almost 12 lengths during the middle stages of the race.

It became a two-horse war to the finish, with True Enough and Tiptronic both refusing to surrender.

In a desperate, head-bobbing finish, Tiptronic prevailed by a nose to end True Enough’s Triple Crown run.

“Wow, I’m a little bit lost for words,” winning jockey Jason Waddell said. “Congratulations to Graham (Richardson, trainer) and Rogan Norvall (assistant trainer) and their whole team. Their horses are prepared magnificently and trained right down to the second.

“I got into a lovely spot, right where I wanted to be. Jeez, we had a good battle down the straight, and it’s not often you out-tough one of Murray Baker’s horses.”

Graham Richardson paid $100,000 to buy Tiptronic at the 2015 Premier Sale. He has now won six of his 30 starts and $492,700 in prize-money.

Richardson was delighted to see the six-year-old claim his first Group One victory in Saturday’s feature. He finished second in the same race last year.

“I’m just really proud of him, the horse deserved it,” Richardson said. “He’s always been the underdog, so it’s a perfect result.

“Actually, I thought he had run second again, but it was a great ride by Jason. I couldn’t be happier for the owners and especially for the horse.

“I don’t know what’s next for him but if we can keep fresh legs in him then he will be happy.”

The NZB Insurance Weight-for-Age Triple Crown will conclude in the $200,000 Group One New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on March 7.