Wide gate no barrier to Sarten success

Dismay at an outside draw turned to delight at Te Rapa where Sumstreetsumwhere emerged as a genuine chance to defend his stable’s classic crown.

The son of Highly Recommended downed a competitive field of three-year-olds in Monday’s Gr.2 Sarten Memorial (1400m) to send him on his way to Christchurch for the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m).

Stephen Marsh won both races last year with Ugo Foscolo and Sumstreetsumwhere has now claimed the opening leg of the double and his trainer is confident the best is still to come.

“When we drew 15 of 15 I couldn’t believe it, but when the rain came it negated it,” the Cambridge horseman said.

“He’s a horse on the way up and he’s still got a lot to learn. As long as he comes through the race well, we’ll head to Riccarton.”

A debut third behind the 2000 Guineas favourite Te Akau Shark, Sumstreetsumwhere then won at Te Rapa where he was a pick-up ride for Jason Waddell after Troy Harris was unable to make the weight.

Waddell, who dedicated the win to his mother who is battling illness, retained the mount in the Sarten and drew praise from Marsh for his performance.

“It was a 10 out of 10 ride, midfield and one off the fence,” Marsh said. “He’s ridden him perfectly both times.”

Sumstreetsumwhere finished resolutely to have a neck on the maiden As You Will, who closed well from the tail of the field, with the last-start Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) winner Hard Merchandize a sound third.

“He loves getting his toe in the ground,” Waddell said. “We didn’t really have a game plan and he jumped beautifully to get a spot and full credit to the horse, he knuckled down right to the line.”