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Sangster Romps to International Glory

February 12, 2013

A patient approach with Sangster (NZ) (Savabeel) was rewarded with another Group One success at Te Rapa today when the lightly-tried four-year-old was a resounding winner of the Darci Brahma International Stakes.

Successful in the Group One VRC Derby in the spring of 2011, the gelding failed to find his best form during a light campaign the following autumn and was put aside by trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young for a decent spell.

Sangster (NZ) has showed the benefit of that lengthy break this preparation and followed up a second placing in the Listed Queensland Winter Carnival Anniversary Handicap at Trentham with a commanding performance this afternoon.

“We’ve been mindful of getting him into the Auckland Cup with a winning weight and very wary of the hard tracks,” Busuttin said.

“He’s never really let down on them before but today he has. The race was run to suit with good tempo and he’s a solid stayer.”

Sangster (NZ) was trapped three wide in the early stages before pushing forward to be one off and from third across the top was ready to pounce into the straight. He forged clear and won as he liked by two and three-quarter lengths from the mares Dolmabache (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) and Asavant (NZ) (Zabeel).

“We’ll probably back him up now in the Avondale Cup next weekend,” Busuttin said. “He’s a big, gross horse who needs his racing and Opie (Bosson) is the best in the business – he’s proved that again today.”

Bosson said they were caught wide by the muddling early pace and quickly made the decision to press ahead. “We were caught wide and I couldn’t get in so I decided to go forward and that was the best thing and we got a good run from then on. He’s going to keep improving as well.”

Story courtesy of: NZ Thoroughbred Racing Inc