A last start second to Wolfe (JPN) in the Group III Coongy Cup at Caulfield, Top Of The Range benefitted from an inspired ride by William Pike to capture Wednesday’s Group III Jayco Bendigo Cup (2400m).
Second last on the home turn, Pike weaved a passage between runners to nail Brimham Rocks (GB) (Fastnet Rock) by a long-head with the winner’s stablemate Hang Man (IRE) (Windsor Knot) a length back in third.
In earning his first stakes win, the 6yo son of Savabeel advances his record to 5 wins, 4 seconds and 3 thirds from 27 starts with earnings of $546,350.
“Both of my horses were ridden terrifically. Top Of The Range just stays the trip a little bit better than Hang Man,” winning trainer Mike Moroney said.
“He’s come of age. He’s had heart fibrillation and a lot has gone wrong through his career, so it’s never been easy for him but he has really matured and he is good to deal with now.
“I’m not sure where he goes next. We will wait and see how he pulls up.
For the Western Australian legend William Pike, it broke a 12-year drought in Victoria.
"I had to come back and double check my number was up there," Pike joked after the race. I've run a lot of close seconds and been very much the bridesmaid on my visits and hopefully I can keep the form going through the carnival," Pike told racing.com.
Bred by the Bax family, Top of the Range was purchased by bloodstock agent Dean Hawthorne for $250,000 out of Blandford Lodge’s 2015 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling draft.
A three-quarter brother to the Group 1 VRC Oaks third Savsbelle and half-brother to the talented Hong Kong performer Clement Legend (Ocean Park), Top Of The Range is the best of three winners out of the winning Montjeu mare Spiriting who is a half-sister to Group III STC Kingston Town winner Just Polite (Dehere) who is the dam of Group 1 Auckland Cup winner Ladies First (Dylan Thomas).
Blandford Lodge consigned a full sister to Top Of The Range to the 2019 NZB Karaka Book 1 where she was knocked down to Moody Racing for $240,000.
After slipping to Savabeel in 2017, Spriting was covered by Almanzor (FR) last spring.
Top Of The Range becomes the 92nd stakes-winner for Waikato Stud’s flagship stallion Savabeel.
