Track Article

In a surprising turn of events, despite being a trial victor, the offspring of Sacred Falls found himself as the outsider with odds at $5.10 in a small four-horse field. However, this underdog story took a remarkable twist as the horse, guided skillfully by jockey Kelsey Hannan from the rear, triumphed with a commanding lead of one and a half lengths, leaving the favored Our Milly Bee trailing behind.

Cambridge trainer Shaun Phelan, who holds a high regard for this slow-developing gelding, was taken aback by the lack of support from the betting market. Nonetheless, he couldn’t hide his satisfaction as the horse proved its mettle on the track.

Phelan commented, “He’s quite a talented runner, and I must admit, I was genuinely surprised to see him listed as the least-favored contender. He exceeded expectations out there.”

Humboldt, owned by a syndicate led by Tommy Heptinstall and Andrew Campbell, has a potential slot in the prestigious Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m), scheduled for March 4 at Te Rapa. However, Phelan conceded that the timing might be against them to prepare for such a significant event.

He elaborated, “While we have a nomination for the New Zealand Derby, realistically, the clock is ticking. We’re leaning more towards entering him in the Manawatu Classic (Gr.3, 2000m). Longer distances are certainly his forte.”

“As for the Derby, it might be a bit late in the game. Tommy and Andrew are eyeing the possibility of taking him to Australia at some point. He’s the lone survivor from the yearling draft they acquired, mainly because he needed that extra time.”

Phelan further explained, “Given his lineage – sired by Sacred Falls and out of a Montjeu mare – he was somewhat frail initially, so we decided to be patient and give him the time he needed to blossom.”