A strong tempo and a perfect Blake Shinn ride played to the strengths of handy stayer Wertheimer as he ran out a strong winner of the Herald Sun Handicap (2400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
The six-year-old son of Tavistock is prepared by Matthew Enright at Bendigo and is racing consistently well this campaign for the ex-pat Kiwi conditioner, showing no signs of fatigue at the ninth start of his preparation.
Wertheimer settled second-last in the run and tracked Oceanic Flash throughout as Divine Purpose set a strong tempo up front. Shinn timed his run to perfection, claiming the lead shortly after straightening and staved off the late challenge of Galilaeus to score by a half-length.
“I thought with Peter Moody’s horse (Divine Purpose) going 12 seconds to the furlong it suited me as he is not a sit and sprint horse,” Enright said.
“He likes a genuine tempo, and I was happy where we were in the run. I didn’t give Blake any instructions. You don’t have to. I was surprised he was that far back, but it was a beautiful ride and he’s the master.”
Enright said his facilities at Bendigo, where he has a water-walker, have enabled him to keep the horse happy throughout a lengthy campaign, and he is now eyeing a tilt at the Gr.2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) on March 11.
“This is run number nine (this preparation) and I said to Blake that there is no sign of him training off,” Enright said.
“He goes on the water-walker for four days after each run. I don’t do anything with them and then I just regenerate them. He seems to be coping so hopefully we might sneak to Adelaide for the Adelaide Cup.
“I think it is probably a year for a horse like him. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of high-class stayers around, so he will sneak there on the minimum I presume. It is certainly an option.”
It was the fifth win of a 34-start career for Wertheimer and incredibly it had been 19 years since Shinn had previously ridden a runner for Enright.
Bred and part-owned by Tommy Heptinstall, Wertheimer has now earned A$295,335 in stakes.
He is by Tavistock out of the winning Lonhro mare Wild About Me, whose dam Like Me Wild was a Listed placegetter in Sydney.