Dezigna Does It At Last
Saturday, 25 October 2008: The nine-year-old landed the biggest prize of his long career in fine style to put an end to a frustrating run at the top level after 20 previous starts in Group One races that had yielded nine minor placings.
They have included top three finishes in the NZ Stakes (twice), Easter Handicap, Zabeel Classic and at Trentham in the Telegraph Handicap (twice) and the Thorndon Mile.
Today it was Dezigna's long-overdue turn to play the lead role and nobody was prouder than his Matamata co-trainer Wayne Hillis.
"It's just brilliant - I'm so rapt for the horse because he really deserves it," said Hillis.
Hillis, who prepares Dezigna with wife Vanessa, had some lead-up concerns with the state of the track.
"It was a bit of a worry but I thought he would definitely be a big show because he always tries so hard," said Hillis.
"We always thought he didn't like wet ground but he ran second in the Easter last year and just got beaten and it rained before the race.
"It was similar here and it was loose. He doesn't like it sticky or puggy."
Dezigna raced in behind the pace for rider Troy Harris, who hooked him into the clear 300 metres from home.
The son of champion sire Volksraad got home by a neck from the game pacemaker O'Ceirins Angel and Bulginbaah.
Mr Benny Hill finished fourth ahead of the favourite Fritzy Boy, who had every chance but failed to quicken in the run home.
Dezigna's success has confirmed immediate plans for the gelding with victory ruling out a trip to Christchurch.
"He'll get too much weight now in the Couplands Mile so he'll go to Ellerslie on Melbourne Cup day," said Hillis.
The race on his programme is the G3 $100,000 Lindauer Special Reserve Stakes, a weight-for-age 2000 metres.
Dezigna has now won 11 of his 72 starts and earned $742,549 in a glittering career over eight seasons.
|
