William Wallace Stands Tall in Timaru Cup

Well-performed Karaka graduate William Wallace (NZ) (Darci Brahma) is continuing to deliver at the age of nine, romping home by a wide margin in Tuesday’s $60,000 Listed Craigmore Sustainable Holdings Timaru Cup (1600m) at Phar Lap Raceway. 

Bought for $40,000 from the 2014 Ready to Run Sale, William Wallace has now had 48 starts for eight wins, seven placings and $224,254 in stakes – more than five times his purchase price. This was his second stakes success, having also won the Listed Spring Classic (2000m) at Riccarton Park in October of last year.

Ridden by Brett Murray for rookie trainer Meg Cunneen, William Wallace took up his customary role near the back of the field through the early stages of Tuesday’s feature race. Murray got him rolling forward as the field came down the side of the track, and William Wallace quickly swooped up into third rounding the home turn.

It was a one-horse race from there as William Wallace surged to the front and powered clear down the straight, opening up a dominant winning margin of three and a half lengths over Beneficial (NZ) (Highly Recommended) and Goodanya (NZ) (Zacinto).

It was a first stakes win for Cunneen, who took over the training of William Wallace just over a month ago.

“Super ride from Brett – stoked to see him rewarded for his hard work,” Cunneen tweeted. “Very lucky to have ‘Willy’ in the stables, classy horse when he’s right. Incredible to have the backing from Adrian and Robyn (Bull, owners), both incredible horsepeople in their own right.”