BLACK & WHITE IN VICTORY

Although a staying type in the making, Dependsonsituation (3 g Reliable Man – Ebony and Ivory, by Zabeel) got the job done at fruity odds when resuming in the $10,000 Golden Grain Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 12 June at Te Teko.

Bred by Gerard Peterson & Rod Duke and raced by them, along with Bryan Dorman, Joe Pulitano, and Rupert & Cheryl Legh, he looked promising at the trials before spelling in preference for give in the ground after debuting on Good3 over 1400 metres in December. Closing strongly from well back to finish second when trialling on 6 May at Cambridge, on Dead6 footing, he coped admirably to win on Heavy10.

Ridden by Cameron Lammas, Dependsonsituation negated a wide draw (13) to travel three wide in fifth, ranged ominously to lead on straightening at the 400m and he kept going boldly to score by one and a half lengths.

Earlier fixed odds of $16.00 & $4.20 were reduced at tote close to $11.50 & $4.00, with the raw-boned galloper fortunate to gain victory before worsening weather and visibility saw an abandonment two races later.

Co-trainer Pam Gerard had always rated the horse, but also felt yielding ground and time would be his friend.

“It was a good performance, especially fresh-up,” Gerard said. “He trialled up nicely at Cambridge, and I thought that although 1200 metres would be way too short for him that he’s a horse with a fair amount of ability. I had no worries about the conditions as he wants cut in the ground.

“We thought quite a bit of him earlier on and felt he could make a Derby horse, but didn’t quite handle the firmer tracks and he’s a very big horse that’s been slightly immature.”

Gerard suggested that in time he could end up racing from the Ballymore Stables at Flemington, in Melbourne.

His dam, Ebony and Ivory, impressed winning over a mile and now left three individual winners of eight races, including Blackmagicwoman and Uber Cougar, both by Melbourne Cup winner Shocking (Street Cry). Interestingly, Ebony and Ivory was purchased as a yearling by Paul Moroney Bloodstock and raced by Gerard Peterson & Rod Duke.

Dependsonsituation was strapped by Richie Fallon.