Hidden Talent and Shepherds Delight run away with Wairio features

Bruce Stewart Journalist

A daring drive by Wyndham harness racing driver Craig Ferguson gave him a win in today’s $25,000 Otautau Four Square Supermarket Wairio Cup at Winton. 

Ferguson, taking full advantage of Shepherds Delight’s (Sky Major) great standing start attributes, opened up some big holes in the eight horse field and made it hard for the two backmarkers Miraculous (20 metres) and Built For Glory (30 metres).

Although some of the gaps closed, Ferguson still had a margin on the chasing bunch when the field headed for home.  Miraculous stormed home late and got within a head of Shepherds Delight with Built For Glory making up ground late to get within a length and a half of the winner. 

Shepherds Delight (4) just gets there from Miraculous (Bruce Stewart Photo)

Shepherds Delight’s time was 3-00.1. Miraculous ran the 2400 metres post to post in 2-58.5 and Built For Glory did it in 2-58.0.

Winning salute (Bruce Stewart Photo)

“He’s quite a nice wee horse actually,” trainer Ivan Court said after the five year old won his fifth race at start twenty eight. “This is the first Cup he’s won. We won’t rush to find another race for him, we’ll just try and find stands for him.” 

Court is renowned for having his horses well drilled when it comes to standing starts, but he wasn’t prepared to let us into any secrets.

“A lot of people ask me that but I’m not letting my secret go (laughter).”

Ironically Tim Williams who normally drives Shepherds Delight was committed to the Telfer runner Built For Glory.  

Hidden Talent (Bacardi Lindy) went back to back, following up her Riverton win to score in todays $20,000 Highway Services Handicap Trot.

She began well, took some short cuts down the back, moved off the running line at the right time and was too good, winning by three lengths from Practical Magic.

Hidden Talent after her Wairio win (Bruce Stewart Photo)

The win reinforces the six year old mare’s talent and turns the corner on what was, prior to her Riverton win, an average run of form.

“In the last three or four months she been working terrific and everything has been good at home. It’s just been her race days performances. She’s virtually taken part in none of them. At Riverton she really relaxed on the grass and finished her race off. She enjoyed the grass and today she relaxed nice as well. When she joined in, it was like the Hidden Talent of old, which was great,” trainer and driver Nathan Williamson said.

Hidden Talent, Nathan Williamson and the Griffin Syndicate (Bruce Stewart - Photo)

Williamson added that putting Hidden Talent on the unruly has also helped.

“It’s just given her a wee bit more space. It’s worked the oracle for her.” 

He says he’ll continue to race the mare in the south, as the good stakes are attracting good fields.