Quick back up works the oracle for Uderzo

Consistent gelding Uderzo (NZ) (Vadamos) showed he was thriving on a steady diet of weekly racing when he pulled away from his rivals in the closing stages to score nicely against the open sprinters in the Trackside.co.nz 1400 at Ellerslie.

The seven-year-old son of Vadamos was having his third consecutive run on a Saturday for trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott and performed to expectations as he came from just off the pace to dash past race favourite Sweet Smile in the final 200m to register career win number six.

Scott was thrilled to see his charge, who he shares in the ownership of with wife Lauren and a large group of stable supporters, pick up the win after finishing runner-up in two of his last three starts.

“We’re genuinely pleased for the ownership group and the team at home as we’ve tried a few different things with him this week, including sleeping in a few different boxes,” Scott said.

“He had been thinking a bit (in his races) so we were just trying to keep him up on his toes and put that variety into his routine.

“He has always been a lovely, consistent galloper and Warren (Kennedy) gave him a lovely ride.

“He pulled up so well out of his run last weekend and once he finds form, he usually holds it.

“We thought that we would put him in today as the nominations were light, while there is a nice race next Saturday for him at Te Rapa, so provided he has a good week, we’ll keep cracking on.”

Warren Kennedy was happy to keep his options open during the race with just five rivals to contend with.

“With small fields it is normally quite tactical and things can change on a dime,” he said.

“I didn’t expect to see Sweet Smile in front, so I thought I would just bide my time. He’s not a horse with a great turn of foot but he winds into it, so we attacked quite late and he just pulled through the line and we had it won at the 200m.

“He felt brilliant, he’s fit and relaxed, has matured and is a pleasure to ride.”

Purchased by Wexford Stables for $125,000 out of Rich Hill Stud’s 2020 Book1 draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, Uderzo has now won six of his 40 starts, with a further 10 placings and more than $281,000 in prizemoney.

Out of the Pentire mare Etosha Lass, his extended family includes brilliant Australian sprinter and successful stallion Canny Lad, who took out the 1990 Gr.1 Golden Slipper (1200m), along with a host of notable Australian Group One winners including Camarena, Canny Lass, Guelph and Sepoy.