Progressive stayer Enrico (NZ) (El Roca) could be in for his best campaign yet after showing plenty of grit and tenacity to collect his fourth win at Trentham when he overcame some home-straight troubles to win the Toast To Tiptronic (1600m) open handicap on Saturday.
The Ilone Kelly-prepared seven-year-old came into the event off the back of an eye-catching run for third at Otaki at his last start over 1400m and relished the step up in distance for his next assignment.
On a day where on-pace runners dominated, rider Madan Singh bounced Enrico away nicely and quickly had him trailing pacemakers Turn The Ace (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) and Tobias (NZ) (Complacent).
That ideal position began to look increasingly difficult approaching the home turn with Enrico travelling sweetly but needing a can-opener to find a gap and clear air to issue his challenge.
Things got tight early in the run home as Enrico was shut out of an inside run, however he soon picked himself up and burst between runners to hit the front before holding out a game challenge from topweight Belardo Boy (NZ) (Belardo) and the late-closing Letsbringthebling (NZ) (Shocking).
Kelly was thrilled with the victory and is hoping it is the first of plenty more in his campaign.
“He just loves Trentham as that is his fourth win there,” Kelly said. “He seems to have really matured for this preparation and I think that helped when he got into a little bit of trouble in the straight as he picked himself up and charged after them.
“I probably didn’t place him that well last season as there never seemed to be the right race when we needed it, but I think this campaign will be different as there looks like some nice races ahead for him.
“We had thought of taking him to Riccarton for the New Zealand Cup (Gr.3, 3200m), but he just goes a little keen for two miles so we will stick around here and look at some of the middle-distance races coming up.”
Enrico has now won four races at Trentham alongside a victory at Wanganui and Awapuni respectively and over $196,000 in prizemoney.
The other feature event on the card, the NZCIS Wellington Cup Packages Now On Sale Sprint (1200m) was also taken out in resilient fashion by the Bryce Newman-trained Bold Belle (NZ) (The Bold One), who is also proving to be a Trentham specialist.
The now seven-year-old mare collected her third victory at the venue as she refused to admit defeat when headed by race favourite I’m All In early in the home straight, fighting back to gain the upper hand in the final two strides to register her fifth career victory.
Newman was pleased to see the hard work he has put into the mare to get her to settle starting to pay dividends.
“We were expecting a good run but were more hopeful than confident as it was a strong field,” Newman said.
“Trentham is a favourite place for her, but in the early days she just used to go far too hard and had nothing left at the finish.
“We’ve been teaching her to settle and today she managed to do that and have a good kick when she got headed.
“She also had a light weight so she will probably cop a re-handicap for the future. We have been thinking we could lift our sights with her and now could be a good time for that.”
A daughter of The Bold One and five-race winner Gossiping, Bold Belle has won five of her 24 starts and over $153,000 in prizemoney.