New Zealand-bred St. Peters Gift simply ran his opponents ragged to give master trainer Joe Lau his second Director’s Cup (Mac Gr 2) on Saturdays turf program. The son of St Petersburg was revved up out of the gates by jockey Peter Ho who showed his rival jockeys he was intent on leading, and from then on dictated the speed to a nicety.
Ho cut loose on the gelding at the top of the straight and he put seven lengths on his opposition in a twinkling to race away for a dominant win over Jazza Bell (Zabeel), with Supreme Caga (Cherokee Run) a stablemate to the winner, in third.
St Peters Gift had ruined his chances in two starts previous when he over-raced in the Derby when finishing fourth, and again in the Macau Gold Cup to be beaten right on the wire. The step back to 1500 metres and a revert back to the same tactics applied when the gelding won the Derby Trial, bought about the change of fortune for the four year old to score a deserved win.
“He really deserved that. He spoilt his chances his last two runs by not settling. There wasn’t a lot of speed in the race so I told Peter to take charge of the race and coming back to the 1500 suited him.” Lau said
Lau saddled up four runners in the 14-horse field with the other two being race favourite Kaaptan, and Clown Master. “The heavy ground made it tough for Clown Master but he actually did well to run fourth. I thought the ground would suit Kaaptan but he was battling before the turn and was disappointing.” Lau added.
St Peter’s Gift was first sold at the NZB 2008 South Island Sale of 2YOs and Mixed Bloodstock, where he was purchased by New Zealand Bloodstock for NZ$30,000 from the draft of Leafland Stud. He was later sold by Anzac Lodge at the 2008 Ready To Run Sale of 2YOs for NZ$100,000 to New Zealand Bloodstock Ltd.