Owner breeder Nick Vass has had nine Group 1 victories in the past but classed the victory of Carzoff in Friday’s $160,000 Carlton Draught Wyong Gold Cup up with his best racing moments.
Vass owned previous Listed Wyong Cup placegetters Planet Hollywood and Space Age trained by Neville McBurney but shrugged off the bridesmaid’s tag with a great win by the Chris Waller-trained Carzoff.
“I own 20 percent and he races in my colours. I haven’t had a good win for the last two or three years so this is very special.”
Vass has also raced numerous Group winners with Gai Waterhouse including Sweet Idea, Cheeky Choice and Electronic.Carzoff is the sixth Wyong Cup victory for Chris Waller since 2010.
It also capped off a great day for jockey Kerrin McEvoy, bringing up a winning treble and securing the highly sought-after Nathan Berry Shield as the leading rider over the two-day Wyong Cup carnival.McEvoy put in a pearl of a ride to secure victory, coming from the rear in the straight and weaving a passage through runners before pulling away to secure a length win.
Carzoff, who recorded his fourth career win from 22 starts, beat the Waterhouse trained Dark Eyes with Taree Cup winner Shalmaneser, trained by Richard Freedman, a half-length behind in third.Glen Barnes, representing the Waller stable described it as a “masterful ride.”
“He’s been such an honest little horse and races consistently all the time. It’s good ot see him get a very nice race under his belt.
“He doesn’t mind the sting out of the track and he ran right up to his best today“It’s good fun winning races like this. The owners will be very happy.”
Promising Godolphin mare Savatiano will push into the spring full of confidence after resuming with a convincing win in the $125,000 Winning Commercial Mona Lisa Stakes at Wyong on Friday.
Both stable representative Darren Beadman and jockey Kerrin McEvoy were pleased with Savatiano’s performance, her fifth win from 12 starts.“It’s not an easy task 1350m first up especially on a rain affected track but she had trialled extremely well,” Beadman said.
“It’s nice for this filly to get some black type beside her name. She deserves it.“There are bigger fish to fry for her in the spring.”
Beadman said there were plenty of options for Godolphin trainer James Cummings to consider for Savatiano going forward.“We will see how she pulls up from here and then decide where to take her, but we will try and stick with the fillies and mares races.”