Quid collects in Great New Zealand Hurdle
The Kevin Myers-trained Quid was rewarded for his consistency when taking out the J Swap Great New Zealand Hurdles (4200m) at Te Aroha on Friday.
The eight-year-old son of Rios finished runner-up in the last two editions of the Grand National Hurdles (4200m) and was runner-up in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdle (3000m) in July, but a prestige jumps title had eluded him.
All eyes were on Squire heading into Friday, and the $3.20 favourite set the tempo up front for most of the race, while jockey Kylan Wiles settled Quid midfield. Heading down the backstraight for the final time, Dictation began to apply pressure outside the leader, which began to tell with 1000m to go.
Quid began to steadily improve and, at the 800m mark, Wiles asked him to take chase. He soon ranged up alongside Dictation and hit the lead. While the Peter and Jessica Brosnan-trained pair of Squire and Jake rallied late, Quid proved too strong in the end, running out a 4-3/4 length victor.
Owner-breeder Michael Wallace was trackside to witness the win and said his gelding deserved the spoils.
“He has run second in two Grand National Hurdles and a Hawke’s Bay Hurdle, so he was due a big hurdle race and he deserved it,” Wallace said.
“I thought when it rained this morning it brought him into it because he stays all day. He could go another round probably.
“He was too good and it was a pretty good ride from Kylan Wiles. It is great to win a big race.”
Wiles has been aboard Quid in all three of his prestige placings, and he was rapt to finally go one better on Friday.
“I was sick of coming second on this horse and we finally got the result today,” he said. “He travelled well the whole race. He got a couple of fences wrong, and he is just so clever to get out of them.
“Coming around the corner I thought we would try and get a break on them because I know he likes to wander around up front. He is a tough horse and he did the job.
“It is a big thrill. I have come second in the Hawke’s Bay (Hurdle) the last two years and second in the National in the last two years, so I needed one.”
