Stratford visitor Soldier Boy (NZ) (Proisir) made a long-awaited return to the winners’ enclosure when he came out on top in a three-horse tussle in the SKYCITY Hamilton Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa.
The Gavin Sharrock-prepared galloper hadn’t been seen on top of the victory podium since he claimed the Listed Maron Cup (2200m) at Trentham in January 2023.
Sharrock has never lost faith in his versatile son of Rich Hill Stud stallion Proisir, who tends to excel on tracks with plenty of cut in them.
With Te Rapa coming up a Heavy10 on race morning, it played well for the six-year-old who also enjoyed the services of in-form jockey Kelly Myers, who was having her first ride aboard the gelding at his 47th race start.
Myers allowed Soldier Boy to find his feet in midfield before beginning to improve his position along the rail at the 600m.
Angled off the fence rounding the home bend into a fast lane in the middle of the track, Soldier Boy and the well-fancied Saint Bathans (Maurice) took control of proceedings at the 250m with Drop Of Something (NZ) (Telperion) chasing gamely on their heels.
Soldier Boy fought best in a dour struggle as he held out his rivals by half a length, in the process returning his supporters a healthy Fixed Odds dividend of $27.
Sharrock, who went close to a notable double on the day when his other runner, Stewart (NZ) (Darci Brahma) was narrowly beaten in the fourth race on the card, was thrilled to see one of his stable favourites back in winning form.
“That was great today as he has always been a good horse but as he has got older, he has got a few more quirks and can be a little cantankerous at times,” Sharrock said. “I stripped all the gear off him and let him run au naturel and he loved it.
“I thought Kelly rode him a treat as we discussed it before the race and I just said make sure you keep him nice and warm behind the barrier. Last time he stood there and wouldn’t go, but today he got away nicely and the old bugger was in for the fight.”
Sharrock is keen to press on over the winter months with a tilt at the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) at New Plymouth on 19 July a possible option for his charge.
“He is back to form and when he is like that he stays that way,” he said.
“He can have a freshen up now and maybe take a shot at the Opunake Cup next month as he has won twice over 1400m.
“He is really versatile as he ran fourth in a New Zealand Derby (Gr.1, 2400m) and won the Marton Cup over 2200m and has that winning 1400m form so anything is possible with him.”
Raced by Hawera accountant Gavin O’Dea, who co-bred him from his Ekraar mare Forty Love (NZ), Soldier Boy is the younger brother of Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) runner-up Vancooga (NZ) and the older brother of former promising juvenile Sergeant Major (NZ), who was purchased by well-known Australian owner Ozzie Kheir before going on to win the Listed South Pacific Classic (1400m) out of the Ciaron Maher stable in April.
Soldier Boy has now won five of his 47 starts and over $256,000 in prizemoney.