Admiral has earned high praise from Te Rapa trainer on heavy tracks, and that form was needed in appalling heavy conditions at Tauranga, with the four-year-old taking out the Quadrant Pacific 1200 (Rating 85) on Saturday.
Admiral, payed tribute to his recently deceased sire, Align - who was put down at Highview Stud this week at the age of 19. The accomplished stallion has sired 185 individual winners.
Admiral with apprentice Viktoria Gatu aboard, went straight to the lead. Kicking clear after soon turning for home but was challenged by Persuasive, then kicked again in the final furlong to win by a length. The winning time was 1:20.69 for the 1200 metre event.
"He's very average on top of the ground, but he's unbeaten on heavy tracks. He's never been beaten in a race or a trial on a heavy track."
"It was a lovely ride from Viktoria. I told her that he's a go-forward horse and to control the race from the front. It worked out well," Te Rapa trainer Stephen Ralph said.
Admiral is now the winner of three (three wins from three starts on heavy tracks) and four seconds from 19 starts, and has earned $51,700 for owner/breeder S Seath.
"I thought he was my best ride today. He loves heavy tracks and only had 52kgs on his back. It was a good win."
"He hit a bit of a flat spot halfway down the straight and I thought I was gone, but he kept kicking and held on."
