Wu Gok claims stakes win in Premier’s Cup
Wu Gok has enhanced an already enviable wet-track record in winning the Premier’s Cup at Rosehill.
Heavy-track specialist Wu Gok has come to the fore at Rosehill to win his first stakes win and set up a tile at another.
One of seven Chris Waller-trained horses in the 10-horse field for the Group Three Premier’s Cup (1900m), Wu Gok ($6.50) kept his new stablemate, former Perth horse Come Play With Me ($3.20 fav) at bay by a length.
Six of Wu Gok’s eight wins have been on heavy tracks and Waller said next week’s Wyong Cup was on his agenda.
“He has been a fantastic horse through the winter,” Waller said.
“It was a good win, a well-deserved win for him and he might head to Wyong on Friday for the Cup as well to have another race before he goes out for a well-earned break.”
Wu Gok was ridden by Tommy Berry who is jostling with Tim Clark and Nash Rawiller at the top of a new-look Sydney jockeys’ leaderboard early in the season.
“I rode him last start and I said to Chris ‘we just need a track with a bit of sting out of it again’,” Berry said.
“He was very well-placed. He was down in the weights,.
“I’ve been making an effort in the last few weeks to ride 53 (kg) on a Saturday so I could get some decent rides and I was lucky enough to get this bloke.
“He travelled so sweetly in the run. He was so happy. He found about a length at the top of the straight and held it the whole way to the post.
“He’s a horse in form at the moment.”
The Waller-trained Carzoff ($13) finished third, two lengths from the runner-up but the trainer scratched a couple of the stable’s big guns, Sydney Cup winner Shraaoh and Girl Tuesday, because of the conditions.
“We kept a couple at home – Shraaoh and Girl Tuesday – thinking today might have been a bit tough for them at this stage of their preparation,” he said.
“Overall, I think the race was good and we’ve got some nice stayers going forward for the spring.
“There is a good selection of races. There is the Kingston Town coming up.
“Ideally you get most of them going towards The Metropolitan and a few can head down to Melbourne at some stage too.”
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