Apprentice Sima Mxothwa would have had his heart in his mouth with 250m to run in Saturday’s Laser Plumbing Waihi Beach (1400m) at Tauranga.
Trainer Allan Sharrock entrusted the four kilogram-claiming apprentice with the ride on race favourite Sumi in the open 1400m contest and up until the closing stages of the contest Mxothwa had done most things right on the seven-year-old mare.
Having let the daughter of Atlante find her rhythm towards the back of the field, Mxothwa began to track up behind runners approaching the home bend.
Sumi looked to be full of running as Mxothwa went for a gap one off the fence but that was slammed shut in front of him and he desperately began seeking clear air further out on the track.
Just as Saint Bathans claimed pacemaker Pow Wow and was set for victory, Sumi launched an undeniable burst, making up at least two lengths in the last 100m to hit the front and forge clear for a stunning win.
Mxothwa is another of a growing list of South African riders plying their trade in New Zealand, with the 23-year-old now based with Sharrock after starting off with trainers Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott.
Sharrock admitted he had mixed emotions throughout the race, but was pleased to see everything work out in the end.
"The boy went from hero to zero there pretty quickly when he put her in a bad position in the straight," Sharrock said.
"But she is a tidy mare with a great turn of foot and he managed to get her out and get the win.
"I think he has got good skills but just needs some opportunities to learn and bring those to the fore.
"He has been with me for about a month now, so I put him on to give him that experience and I'm proud of him that he got the job done."
Sharrock had to watch the race from his New Plymouth home after major roadworks on the way to Tauranga prevented him travelling to the venue.
"There are some massive roadworks on at the moment so I stayed home and watched it on TV," he said.
"I thought she could win and now she has I think we might look at a set weights and penalties mile at Ellerslie (Gr.3, 1600m) at the end of the month.
"That was her first go right-handed today and she was fine so that Ellerslie race fits in well for her.
"We were going to send her to the broodmare paddock but decided to give her another campaign where she has won twice and still has a couple more wins in her."
Bred by Mapperley Stud principal Simms Davison, Sumi is a daughter of Kaapstad mare Seek A Fortune and the younger half-sister to Group Three winner Spare A Fortune.
Purchased by Sharrock for just $4,500 out of the Book 3 Sale at Karaka in 2019, she has now won eight of her 35 starts and more than $242,00 in prizemoney.
