It was a family photo shoot at the Hatrick podium following the running of the $30,000 Wanganui Distance over the 755m staying test at Group 1 level on Friday evening. It was the Matt Roberts mentored Cawbourne Taylor who came of age as an elite stayer when she dictated terms to her staying rivals by leading throughout to secure her comprehensive victory. Roberts was joined at the podium by his partner Sarah Clausen and their son Astle.
Pictured: Wanganui Distance winner Cawbourne Taylor with her trainer Matt Roberts, along with partner Sarah Clausen and son Astle
Cawbourne Taylor has always displayed staying ability. After all she went into the event having recorded two placings from her three previous Hatrick 755m attempts. She isn’t known for her early pace, therefore it was somewhat of a surprise to see her leading her rivals into the first turn.
Cawbourne Taylor was never seriously challenged for the race lead from that point as she cruised through the balance of her assignment to land her biggest career title after 45.47s of hard out chasing on a track that was rated dead following constant rain, which eased for this final, during the day.
The warm $1.70 race favourite Dyna Weslyn had settled in an initial midfield position for Roberts’ father Craig. She gradually improved her field position from where she chased after the pacemaker when heading down the back straight the second time. She did close up the margin, however she was judged to be a length behind at the finish.
Delivering a real competitive effort in just his second staying outing (first race over 755m) was the Angela Turnwald prepared Hot Platter who hopped in from off the reserve bench. It was a gallant effort from this bloke as he kicked on stoutly after racing handy to the pace for his third placing, a further three quarters of a length behind.
Catching the eye for his fourth placing another 2.5 lengths astern was the Gary Cleeve prepared Know Pudding. This son of Yella Mustard and Know Revenge was also contesting just his second staying event and his placing saw Cleeve being rewarded with the Breeders bonus payment for being the first Kiwi bred greyhound to finish in this Group 1 event. Staying races is going to be his forte.
Cawbourne Taylor following her Group 1 Wanganui Distance victory; Bobby Blackburn handled Dyna Weslyn for her second placing, while Paul Freeman did likewise for the third placed Hot Platter
Cawbourne Taylor was bred and is raced by the prolific New South Wales breeder Stuart Dickinson who has enjoyed previous Group 1 success on this side of the Tasman with members of this Dyna Double One and Cawbourne Abbi litter. It was Cawbourne Taylor’s litter sister Cawbourne Taber who won last season’s Group 1 New Zealand Oaks at the Addington Raceway and who was also trained by Matt Roberts at that time. And for good measure Matt Roberts produced another litter sister Cawbourne Zulu to win the support 645m staying event earlier on Friday evening.
“This is a huge result for us, as we’ve been through a bit of a flat patch lately. To me training Group 1 staying winners is the ultimate result. I knew that Taylor was ready for a big race as I couldn’t fault her campaign this time in after she had a bit of a setback a couple of months ago.
“She had been racing good, motoring home over 520m then I was pleased with her 645m races. I couldn’t wait to get her back up over the 755m distance here. I was surprised when she set the pace and led throughout, as I had expected her to take an early sit.
“We’ll stick with staying races for her now with next assignment being the T McDonald Cup (Group 2 Cambridge 747m, April 18), then obviously she’ll head onto the Silver Collar. It’s nice to beat the old man again,” chuckled Roberts, who added about the win, “This is a moment to cherish for us as a family having Sarah and Astle at the podium.”
Sarah advised that their son has been a good luck charm for the couple. “I only found out I was pregnant days before Cawbourne Taylor won the New Zealand Oaks and now having Astle here for this Group 1 win is a moment for us to savior.”
Cawbourne Taylor has now raced on 49 occasions, winning nine of those. She has placed in another 18 races, which now sees her career stake earnings sitting at $45,262. She can be fully expected to further enhance her stats during her forthcoming staying engagements.
By Peter Fenemor
