Apprentice jockey Gareth Lahoud has formed a potent partnership with Cleat (NZ) (Rios) this winter, and the pair mastered the murky conditions at Ruakaka on Saturday to collect another victory in the Accurate Books (1100m).
Lahoud has now ridden nine winners in his career, with three of those successes coming from only four rides on Cleat.
Lahoud and Cleat teamed up for the first time at Te Rapa on May 31, where Cleat won a 1200m Rating 75 by a length and three-quarters. More success followed at Tauranga on June 21 with a long neck victory in the same grade.
Trainer Danica Guy raised the bar in July for a pair of open handicaps at Te Rapa. Lahoud rode Cleat into a close fifth behind Caitlyns Wish (NZ) (Belardo), and then the Rios gelding ran seventh behind Force Of Nature (NZ) (Savabeel) with Wiremu Pinn in the saddle.
Cleat stepped back down in class on Saturday, with Lahoud’s 4kg claim reducing his 60.5kg impost to 56.5kg on a deteriorating Soft7 track.
Lahoud had Cleat travelling smoothly in second behind runaway leader Charmario (NZ) (Charm Spirit), then dragged the field up behind that tiring rival coming up to the home turn.
It developed into a two-horse war down the straight as Cleat and Reptak (NZ) (Shocking) strode to the front together with 300m to run.
Reptak seemed to be getting the upper hand, but Cleat responded to the urgings of Lahoud and lifted again. He fought off Reptak’s challenge and held on to win by a long head, with three lengths back to the first-up runner Age Of Discovery (NZ) (Savabeel).
“He’s such a tough horse and he’ll just keep fighting,” Lahoud said. “He handled the track beautifully today.
“He jumps so well, puts himself there and he got into such a good rhythm today.
“I definitely think he can continue this form if the wet tracks stick around for a bit longer. He just loves running and he can keep winning races.”
Cleat has now had 20 starts for five wins, five placings and $109,655 in stakes. He is by Rios, whose son Gaultier (NZ) won the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) for Guy in 2015.
Cleat and Reptak came together during their fierce battle down the straight on Saturday, and Reptak’s connections lodged a protest that was dismissed.
