Wheal Leisure lobs into Cups calculations with Caulfield win
IMPROVING stayer Wheal Leisure has put one hand up for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups later this spring after taking out the Inglis Cup at Caulfield on Saturday.
Continuing the fine form of trainer Archie Alexander, the four-year-old was backed in late to $6 with CrownBet.com.au to upset raging hot favourite Hardham ($1.50) and the money was spot on.
Jockey Dean Yendall got onto the back of Hardham heading into the straight before getting the upper hand over the concluding stages.
Wheal Leisure indicated a permanent return to form after winning at Bendigo last start over subsequent winner Lord Fandango and now the major spring staying features could be on the cards.
“I think we should think about it (running in the Cups),” Alexander said. “We’ll have a look.
“She’s only four with eight or nine starts for four wins. Even if she was going to be a five-year-old mare having a crack at the Cup next year…
“We’ll see how she pulls up and play it from there.”
Alexander stated that Wheal Leisure has been a victim of circumstances throughout its career and the ride from Dean Yendall went exactly as planned.
“We knew coming into this that we were going well,” he said. “I said to Dean, ‘she’s never been pulled out and given the room she’s needed and been beaten’.
“She’s been beaten by circumstances, unlucky rides, barriers draws, but she’s never had a crack at them (and lost).
“There’s always been a reason or an excuse, but I knew once he pulled her out there was no stopping her.”
It was a significant win for Dean Yendall who paid tribute to a late family member.
“Thoughts are with my family and obviously the friends and family of Trevor Yendall – one of my uncles that passed away just recently with Melanoma cancer and some other complications,” Yendall said.
“That ones for you brother.”
Yendall was full of praise for the four-year-old mare which looks to have a decent future ahead of it.
“It was a super effort and I’ll tell you what, she feels good underneath,” Yendall said.
“It’s a great privilege to ride for Archie. He’s been busy with Weir’s horses.
“She’s pretty exciting and I can’t see why she can’t get 2500m.”
Wheal Leisure is currently $81 for the Caulfield Cup at Sportsbet.com.au, but the future of $41 chance Hardham remains up in the air.
“I would have expected him to have shown a bit more zip than that,” trainer David Brideoake said.
“The skies might have become a bit cloudy. He might not be there.”