Underrated galloper Uderzo (NZ) (Vadamos) took up pacemaking duties at Te Rapa on Saturday for the first time in his career, and it proved a masterstroke for trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott as he never looked like being headed in the KPMG 1600 (1600m).
The six-year-old gelding is far better known as a get back and charge home type so many were surprised when apprentice Rihaan Goyaram bounced him straight to the front and set up a leisurely tempo from race favourite Witz End (NZ) (Savabeel).
It was evident from 800m out that the son of Vadamos was going to be hard to peg back as he controlled affairs in front and turned for home with a handy two-length lead.
Witz End chased hard as did his late closing stablemate Roederer (NZ) (Turn Me Loose), but it was all in vain as Uderzo kept up a powerful gallop to hit the line nearly four lengths to the good of the Tony Pike-trained pair in a moderate 1.37.46 for the 1600m journey.
O’Sullivan and Scott felt it was time to change tactics with Uderzo, who had not had much luck of late in some handy fields.
“We thought with the apprentice claim (3kgs) he could go forward and make it hard for the rest of them,” O’Sullivan said.
“He relaxed really well and didn’t reef or pull, which has been his downfall in the past.
“He hasn’t had much racing luck at times so we thought if we could even up the playing field a little by getting him forward and out of trouble he might recapture his best form and he showed today what he is capable of.
“We will wait until we get him home before deciding on whether we give him another run or put him away for a break.
“He will be back next season and with a new trick in his bag we will have a lot of fun with him.”
Purchased by Wexford Stables for $125,000 out of Rich Hill Stud’s 2020 Book1 draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, Uderzo has now won five of his 30 starts and over $235,000 in prizemoney. Out of the Pentire mare Etosha Lass (NZ), his extended family includes brilliant Australian sprinter and successful stallion Canny Lad who took out the 1990 Gr.1 Golden Slipper (1200m) along with a host of notable Australian Group One winners including Camarena, Canny Lass, Guelph and Sepoy.