Weeraechoux worries Petrouchka out of it to score strong win in Belmont Classic

Weeraechoux provided trainer Brian Kersley with one of his biggest moments in racing when scoring a tenacious success in Saturday’s $125,000 Listed Belmont Classic (2200m). Gently nudged out of the barriers by jockey Chris Parnham, Weeraechoux ($3.80 on TABtouch) settled much closer than many anticipated by occupying fifth place on the rail and less than four lengths from leader The Candy Kid ($71). Critically, Parnham had identified a position ahead of $1.95 favourite Petrouchka, who was forced to restrain by rider William Pike and sit behind her main danger. With 600m remaining, Parnham eased Weeraechoux away from the rail and the son of Jimmy Choux made rapid progress to move swiftly to the leaders when turning at the 400m. Importantly, Petrouchka and Pike had not been able to find any room back closer to the rail and the pair were forced to stay behind Weeraechoux to wait for a run. Weeraechoux exploded to the front at the 300m mark, with Petrouchka finally getting clear running to the gelding’s inside. Petrouchka showed a lightning turn of foot to move alongside Weeraechoux with 100m left, but Weeraechoux showed stamina and strength to again draw on from the filly to score by a neck. Trainer Brian Kersley had said he thought the horse was a likely candidate for the Belmont Guineas or Aquanita Stakes, but was forced to wait for his big race win. “The horse has done super today – this wasn’t quite the race I had in mind but I’m very happy and the horse is amazing,” Kersley said. “It was a pearler of a ride, and I couldn’t have asked for anything better at all. “Today was perfect for us – the tempo was enough, and Grant’s horse (Petrouchka) had to try and run us down, which I would have preferred if it was up to me. “We probably got to the front too soon for my bloke because he doesn’t know. “But when they came at him, he found and he found a bit more than he honestly thought he had. “It’s a great bunch of owners, some of them lifetime mates. “The girls that ride him – because he is a bit of a special animal – so much thanks to them and it’s a good day out.” Jockey Chris Parnham was under one instruction from Kersley prior to the race – don’t go to the fence - yet he ended up on the rail in perhaps the winning move. “I was probably of the same opinion before the race - I didn’t really want to get pushed down to the rail – but he didn’t jump as well as he did last start, so we just sort of found ourselves in that position,” Parnham said. “But he relaxed as good as we could’ve hoped for and it was a solid win. “I thought (the tempo) was probably slightly quicker today but he probably hasn’t learned in his career to settle, so now he’s had these couple of runs he’s starting to turn into a nice stayer. “I looked to my left and I saw (Pike) there and thought I was on toast but to my surprise and the horse’s credit we pulled out too many guns.” Patrick Carbery and Clint Johnston-Porter shared riding honours on the day with both securing a double. Jokers Grin ($1.70) stamped himself as a sprinter with a future with a decisive win in the opener before Songaa ($21) marked Carbery’s second, while Johnston-Porter delivered Kisses From Kelly ($2.25) and Stormchaser ($2.70) to salute.