Surpass home a hero
15 December 2014
Michael Moroney’s decision to send Surpass back home has proved a master stroke with the stayer successfully kicking off the second phase of his New Zealand career with victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 Waikato Times Gold Cup at Te Rapa.
The Flemington trainer took charge of the Savabeel gelding last year and prepared him to win races at Sandown, Mornington and Randwick.
Surpass had been below par in more recent times in Australia, which prompted his return to the Matamata arm of the operation run by Chad Ormsby.
“His form had been a little bit mixed and Mike and the racing manager Anthony Feroce sat down and hatched the plan – I was glad to get the call that he was coming home,” Ormsby said.
“He had me a little worried during the week when he went a bit quiet, but he was bucking and kicking when we got him out of his paddock this morning.”
Surpass was given an economical trip near the pace by Opie Bosson and they hit the front 200 metres from home.
“He travelled beautifully throughout and coming to the turn I had a lap full of horse,” Bosson said.
“I gave him a few back handers and he won quite easily.”
Tempelten ran on well enough for second ahead of Decorah with Delago’s Secret arriving late for fourth.
Surpass will now be set for the Gr.3 City of Auckland Cup at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day on what promises to be a major occasion for his part-owners Paul and Shirlie Ryan, who race the Gr.1 Railway Stakes contender In Style. – NZ Racing Desk.
Recent News
9 March 2026
G2 Adelaide Cup Success For Tivaci’s American Wolf
In what was an exciting 3200m contest, Tivaci’s American Wolf took out Monday’s G2 Adelaide Cup at Morphettville in thrilling fashion, with Hurry Curry (Ocean Park) sporting the WS silks finishing in third off the …
Read More
9 March 2026
Third Listed Success For Ocean Park’s Arcadia Park
Recording his third individual Listed victory, the Bob Peters’ bred Arcadia Park was coming into the Listed Bunbury Cup (2000m) off the back of a handy third in the Listed Detonator Stakes where he finished …
Read More