HARLECH WINS BIG AT RICCARTON

Racing in fine fettle, Harlech (7 g Darci Brahma – Obsession, by Bachelor Duke) returned to winning form in the $80,000 Avon City Ford Easter Cup (Open Handicap, 1600m) on Saturday at Riccarton.

Second on three occasions at Group One level, including the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) at Riccarton, and with earnings over $550,000, Harlech had clocked the fastest last 600m (34.4) for second in the Open Handicap 1300 metres on 4 April at Ashburton, and last start finished second after a stern battle with race rival Green Luck (Street Cry) in the Canterbury Gold Cup (Gr. 3, 2000m) on the course.

Ridden again by Lisa Allpress, who vindicated her belief in the horse when second last time, Harlech received a beautiful trip in the trail from barrier two, was literally jogging into the straight at the 400m and once clear he sailed away to win untouched by three and a quarter lengths.

Harlech turned the tables on Green Luck, who finished second.

“He’s got the stigma around him of not winning races, but he’s been in every big race he could possibly be in and he’s still run creditably,” Allpress said.

“So he’s always had the potential to win more races and he kept on giving today. He didn’t want to be hit with the whip, knew what he was doing, and even though he hasn’t been winning he is very genuine.”

On footing that throughout the programme remained Soft5, Harlech ran 1600 metres in 1:36.4 and held firm in betting to pay $4.60 & $1.70 on the NZ TAB tote.

Three starts ago, Harlech dropped back in trip from 1800 metres to finish second over 1300 metres at Ashburton, and again it proved no obstacle with a return from 2000 metres to 1600 metres.

On earlier arrival in Christchurch, Pam Gerard, who trains in partnership Mike Moroney, declared Harlech to be looking in tremendous order and said he was loving life at the Riccarton training centre.

“We had another good track, which is what he needs and he’s been thriving with plenty of sunshine on his back,” she said.

“He went a bottler when we dropped him back in distance at Ashburton, so we were confident he could do it again and the riders that had been on him in track work have reported him to be as good as ever.

“It was to be his last run in this campaign, set to fly home on Monday, and we were hoping he would get a genuine tempo which would help him from an inside draw.

“I thought we were a little bit stuck at the top of the straight, but he’s got out he showed his confidence that has grown down here.

“He carried a big weight (58.5kg), which isn’t easy to do at the end of a preparation, but he’s got his confidence and he looks sensational.

“Richie (Fallon) has done an awesome job, along with everyone else that has helped down here, and to Sian and Hugh (Fletcher) and the other owners they’ve been patient and trusted me to bring him down here.

“We thought he was coming to the end of his career, but the trip away and sun on his back and there’s no better place than the South Island.”

Selected by Paul Moroney and purchased for $100,000 at the 2018 Karaka Book 1 Sale, Harlech is from the multiple stakes performed mare Obsession, winner of the Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m) and twice Group One placed in the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) and Captain Cook Stakes (1600m).

Sire Darci Brahma (Danehill) hardly needs introduction. An outstanding colt that included the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) and Telegraph Handicap (Gr. 1, 1200m) among five Group One wins, before becoming a multiple champion sire.

Harlech is the best performed among six individual winners from the mare Obsession, whose progeny have now won 12 races.

Harlech is owned by Hugh Fletcher and his wife, Dame Sian Elias, their son Ned and wife Natalie Walker, Roddy & Jenny Paddon, Alan Schmedje, and Ballymore Stables.

Harlech was strapped by Richie Fallon and Amanda Brown.