Smart 2YO doesn’t disappoint on debut
Expectations around Wekaforce at Ruakaka weren’t misplaced with the filly untested to make a dream start to her career.
Trainer Tony Pike was in a bullish pre-race mood and his confidence was realised when the daughter of Showcasing led throughout to win Wednesday’s Fell Engineering 2YO (1200m) with ease.
“She’s always showed plenty of natural ability and she was good when winning her trial at Te Teko,” the Cambridge horseman said.
“We’ve always liked her since she first came into the stable – she’s got a good attitude.”
Wekaforce was smartly out of the gates to make the running and she dashed clear 250m from home under Michael Coleman to romp in by four and a-quarter lengths.
“She’s got good gate speed and we thought she would be hard to beat,” Pike said.
“She got a soft lead and put a good gap on them.”
The youngster is raced by The Galloping Wekas Syndicate who continued their successful association with the stable.
“She’s the third one I’ve had for them and she looks a really good prospect,” Pike said.
“The first was Skyweka and she’s won a Douro Cup and the second is Morweka. She’s not very big, but she has won and has been pretty genuine overall.”
Pike is unsure of the immediate future for Wekaforce and will wait to see how she comes through her Ruakaka experience before making any plans.
“We’ll have a look at her when she gets home and then decide how deep she goes into this preparation,” he said. “She looks like she could be an ideal type for the early three-year-old fillies’ races next season.”