Bevan and Robyn Wilson were disappointed their trio of runners didn’t feature in last week’s Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m), but they got a consolation prize at Riccarton Park seven days later.
The Ashburton couple returned to the Christchurch venue on Saturday with Lord Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and Victorian Charm (NZ) (Charm Spirit) to contest the Stephanie Murray Mortgages Open Handicap (1400m), and got the perfect result, securing the quinella with the pair.
Lord Darci drew the outside gate in the eight-horse field and settled at the rear of the field for apprentice jockey Yogesh Atchamah, with race favourite Bradman (NZ) (Pins) setting the pace upfront.
Atchamah bided his time before presenting his charge on the extreme outside when turning for home, with Lord Darci running over the top of his rivals to score a one length victory over stablemate Victorian Charm.
Atchamah was pleased to get the win and he was confident of the result a long way out.
“At the 600m I had plenty of horse under me and I saw everyone was under pressure,” he said.
“He was cruising under me, that is why I was waiting for the right moment to ask him to go. He loves a wet track.”
Bevan Wilson had been pleased with the former Winter Cup winner’s sixth-placed performance last week, but said the Group Three mile came up a week too soon, which was reflected in Saturday’s winning result.
“He went pretty well the other day, but he had a bit of a setback going into that and it probably just came up a bit early for him this time,” he said.
“It is good they bounced back. They all went well the other day.”
The Wilsons haven’t mapped out further assignments post Saturday’s run, but they haven’t ruled out heading into spring with the energetic eight-year-old.
“I think he can go through a spring,” Wilson said. “His form is definitely better on the loose heavy, but on a softer track in the spring he will be alright.
“We are always day-to-day with him. He is a sound horse, but he just gets himself into trouble every now and again. He is a very active horse. Hopefully there is another year or two yet (with him).” Saturday’s victory was the sixth of Lord Darci’s career, highlighted by his win in the 2022 edition of the Winter Cup, and it boosted his career earnings past the $200,000 mark.