House Of Lords delivers at Bendigo

Promising staying mare House Of Lords (NZ) (Almanzor) relished the quick backup when successful in the Corvette For Cancer Handicap (2200m) at the standalone Bendigo meeting on Saturday.

The Peter Gelagotis-trained daughter of Almanzor finished sixth over 1800m at Flemington on ANZAC Day and a week later was a gallant winner under jockey Ben Allen.

“I took a gamble on today’s race and I gambled on running her last week and backing her up,” Gelagotis said.

“I have always been of the mindset that she is a mile and a half horse but mindful also to educate her and get her in the right zone mentally.

“Credit to Ben, who got back on and has had a good association with her and has won a few races on her. He executed our game plan well.

“She didn’t step that cleanly and he ended up a pair further back than what we wanted, but in saying that the tempo was solid. She got shunted on the corner, so it was a good effort to pick up and she wanted to win.

“She will be going to the paddock for a ten-day break and she will then go down to the beach and let her rejuvenate off that.

“I want to reward her, and I think she is a really progressive type of horse that if we just allow her to mature and soak up the atmosphere of it all, it will hold us in good stead for later in her career.

“She is still lightly raced for a five-year-old mare.”

Bred by Peter Gillespie and Bill Gleeson, House Of Lords was a trial winner for Awapuni trainer Peter Didham before she joined the Pakenham operation of Gelagotis.

Raced by connections that include staunch stable supporters Steve and Paul Moss, the mare has now won five of her 12 starts, with a further two placings.

Out of the four-time Group One winner Shez Sinsational (NZ), House Of Lords is a half-sister to Group winners and top-flight placegetters Sinarahma (NZ) (Darci Brahama) and House Of Cartier (NZ) (Alamosa) and Group Two performer Manifique (NZ) (Savabeel).