Injury plagued sprinter makes successful return at Matamata

Talented but injury plagued sprinter Poetic Champion (NZ)(Super Seth) once again displayed his absolute class in a fresh state when he monstered his rivals in the Ancroft Developments (1200m) at Matamata.

Carrying topweight of 59kgs, even after apprentice Sam McNab applied his 3kg claim, the son of Super Seth made no race of it once McNab found the lead from barrier rise and applied the blowtorch to his rivals from that point onwards.

Poetic Champion was cruising as he rounded the home turn and quickly extended to a two-length margin over the chasing pack.

McNab gave his mount a couple of flicks on the rump and he bounded away to win by just over three lengths at the line from Egyptian Queen (Zoustar), who chased him gamely all the way and the late closing Lachie.

Trainer Tony Pike, who had also produced another promising mare in Thooza (NZ) (Almanzor) to win nicely earlier on the card, was thrilled to see his star back to his best although he knows that his racing career is on a day-by-day basis.

“I think he could be a proper Group One sprinter if he hadn’t been plagued with knee issues all of his career,” Pike said.

“When he is 100 percent sound he oozes class, but we generally can only get two or three starts out of him before the issues flare up and he has to go back to the paddock.

“He was first-up today after 10 months off and he did what he normally does although we expected him to win in rating 75 company as he is much better than that.

“I’m hopeful that as he matures, he will start to shake off some of the problems. He has pulled up better than I have seen before.

“We’ll probably take him to Trentham next for the Lightning (Listed, 1200m) in April as he goes better left-handed with less pressure on his right knee, which is his worst.”

Pike was also delighted with the performance of Thooza, who took out a rating 75 1400m contest in a tight three-way tussle at the finish of the fourth race on the card.

“She (Thooza) is getting better and better as she matures and she was very good today,” he said.

“She got run off her feet on a very firm track at Te Rapa last time but with a little more give in the surface today she was much better suited.

“The way she is progressing she will deserve a shot at some black type, so we will be looking to see where we can go to try and achieve that goal.”

Pike went within a long head of a winning treble with promising stayer Maldini (NZ) (Tarzino) succumbing to the late charge from Savoir Faire (NZ) (Savabeel) when beaten into second by just a long head in the open 2000m contest on the card.