Sounds Unusual leaves it late at Rosehill

New Zealand-bred gelding Sounds Unusual (NZ) (Unusual Suspect) left it late but gave another glimpse of his undoubted saying ability when he came from last on the home bend to claim victory in the Benchmark78 Greg Millett Handicap (1800m) at Rosehill.

A trial winner from his only public outing in New Zealand, the five-year-old son of Unusual Suspect found his way to Chris Waller’s Sydney stable after being privately sold across the Tasman to one of Waller’s major clients, the Muollo family. Waller’s wife Stephanie also shares in the ownership

Handled patiently on Saturday by rider Reece Jones, Unusual Suspect found himself spotting leader and race favourite Shangri La Impact (NZ) (Staphanos) more than six lengths rounding the final corner as Jones hooked him to the outside to unleash his finish.

Sounds Unusual made good ground and joined leader and stablemate Belle Detelle (Zed) at the 75m before putting his head in front to take out the contest by a long neck.

Waller’s assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said finding a race with a solid tempo was key for both horses, particularly the winner, and felt he was more likely to get that in stronger races.

"We were a bit worried whether 1800 was going to be far enough for Sounds Unusual,” Duckworth said.

“He always seems like he's looking for further, so that tempo is vital to him.

"The higher in grade you go, you generally get a bit better tempo anyway.

"If they handle wet tracks it's a big, old bonus coming into winter, and it looks like we're in for a pretty wet one."

Duckworth also expects Belle Detelle, who is a daughter of Black Lace (NZ) Towkay, the half- sister to champion mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) to keep improving and says like Verry Elleegant, her biggest hurdle has been her racing manners.

"It's definitely in the family," he said.

"When she won the Adrian Knox (Gr.3, 2000m), she looked like she was going to be a superstar. She won with a leg in the air.

"Her manners have been the hardest thing to work out, so if she can get everything right she can win some decent races."

Sounds Unusual is a son of Letham Stud stallion Unusual Suspect and is the first foal to race out of the Perfectly Ready mare Perfectlyenchanted (NZ), who herself recorded six wins in a 37-start career.

He has now won three of his 14 starts with a further eight placings and just over A$300,000 in prizemoney.