 High class entire Sudurka is likely to have only one more start before a stud
career after an impressive win in this afternoon's Group One Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield.Like he did in winning last year's Salinger Stakes over the
Melbourne Cup Carnival, the Brian Mayfield-Smith trained sprinter got under punter's
guards by starting at long odds in the plate.
Mayfield-Smith said Sudurka was heading to a stud career in
New Zealand after his next start.
 "The next logical
step was to run in the (Group One) Newmarket Handicapand that could be his last start
before going to stud in New Zealand," Mayfield-Smith said.
It was Group One win number five for Mayfield-Smith since
he's been back in Melbourne from a stint with the wildlife in Africa. The trainer's been
busy in the past week buying horses of all disciplines, shapes and sizes.
While most would known he paid good money for a handful of
well bred yearlings at the Adelaide Magic Millions Yearling Sale at Morphettville he was
also the buyer of a well bred mare. And no it won't be producing him with a future star on
the track.
"It's lucky he won today because that could help pay
for the cutting horse I bought," he said of the $26,000 mare he snapped up during the
week.
 "In those circles she is very well
bred. She's be a legend sire. It's something a bit different but it's one of those little
hobbies I have," Mayfield-Smith added.
Sudurka, today's star was unwanted in betting at $26 but
proved his price wrong with a strong one length win over Mistegic ($13-$10), while the
third placegetter Straight Ace ($41-$61-$51) added further value to a bumped trifecta.
The $31 chance Point Danger ran a great race to finish
fourth, a touch of two lengths from the winner.
The favourite Chong Tong ($4.20-$4.60-$4.20) stumbled out
of the gates and got a long way back before making up some ground in the final stages to
finish sixth, less than three lengths from the winner.
PICS - Quentin
Lang. |
