Electron upsets in Wanganui feature

Underrated mare Electron (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) turned some indifferent form of late upside down when she clung on by the barest of margins to take out the Listed AGC Training Stakes WFA (1600m) at Wanganui on Saturday.

The Sam Mynott-prepared daughter of Turn Me Loose had raced in stakes company at her last four starts and showed she was ready to strike her best form when a handy fifth in the Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup (1600m) at her most recent run.

A noted pacemaker, the five-year-old was content to lob along in the trail for rider Mereana Hudson on this occasion as race favourite Churchillian (NZ) (Churchill) set up a steady speed in front, with Khafre sitting on her outside.

Rounding the home bend, Churchillian was immediately under pressure as Khafre (American Pharaoh) took over and booted for home, while Electron searched for a gap between the two. That space came at the 200m as Hudson shot the mare through to tackle Khafre and the pair went to the finish line in a torrid tussle that went in favour of Electron, with Khafre’s stablemate Nigella Lane (NZ) (Niagara) storming home late to take third.

Mynott was overjoyed with the victory, the first at stakes level for the mare she purchased for just $1,000 off gavelhouse.com in November 2023.

“We weren’t going to come here but she nearly made me fall off when working last week and she was bolting around the paddock,” Mynott said.

“She deserved this and I had said to Mereana we might try and lead, but she has done well and the horse is just really tough.

“She does need the stars to align at this level, which they did today, and I knew she had a Listed win in her.

“She’s very special, my little $1,000 gavelhouse.com purchase and she will go to the paddock now.”

Hudson was also thrilled to make in back-to back victories in the race after winning aboard Ears Back last year.

“We were supposed to lead but I had to go to Plan B when they crossed me,” she said. “Coming up to the corner I had a lot of horse underneath me and she took the gap and really ran home.

“You just have to keep her in a rhythm, keep her breathing and I knew she had got there.”

Bred by Ben Kwok, Electron is out of the Shamardal mare Chemistry, a daughter of 2005 Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) placegetter Tick By (Zabeel) and has now won a touch under $200,000 in prizemoney from wins from her six wins from 30 career starts.