Wu Gok revels in the Rosehill mud to win Premier’s Cup

Accomplished wet tracker Wu Gok made the most of the heavy conditions at Rosehill on Saturday, revelling in the ground when taking out the Group III Premier’s Cup (2000m).

Carrying the colours of Hermitage Thoroughbreds, made famous by the racetrack deeds of The Autumn Sun and Egg Tart, Wu Gok ($6.50) charged along the inside down the straight to record a one length win over the heavily supported Come Plate With Me.

“I rode him last start and I said to Chris ‘we just need a track with a bit of sting out of it again’ and he did. He was very well-placed, he was down in the weights,” winning jockey Tommy Berry said.

“I’ve been making an effort in the last few weeks to ride 53 (kg) on a Saturday so I could get some decent rides and I was lucky enough to get this bloke.

“I always knew they’d probably come off the rail a bit. It’s getting a bit chewed up this part of the day but he lapped it up.

“He travelled so sweetly in the run, he was so happy. He found about a length at the top of the straight and held it the whole way to the post.

“He’s a horse in form at the moment.”

Come Plate With Me, a former West Australian galloper was backed from $4.60 into $3.20 favouritism on-course, raced on the speed and while gallant in defeat, was no match for his race fit stablemate.

Rounding out the Waller-trained trifecta was Carzoff ($13) a further two-lengths away.

Waller said Wu Gok is closing in on a spell but the trainer is considering one more go for the six-year-old gelding by Sebring.

“He has been a fantastic horse through the winter,” he said.

“It was a good win, a well-deserved win for him and he might head to Wyong on Friday (for the Cup) as well to have another race before he goes out for a well-earned break.”

Waller was also pleased with the Sydney debut of Come Play With Me while also giving an update on the two he scratched – Sydney Cup winner Shraaoh and Girl Tuesday.

“The stable ran well,” he said. “Come Play With Me was excellent.

“I spoke to Adam Durrant this morning and he thought he would improve with the run and I think he is right.

“I don’t think a win is far away for him and he was beaten today by an out and out wet tracker.

 “We kept a couple at home – Shraaoh and Girl Tuesday thinking today might have been a bit tough for them at this stage of their preparation.

“Overall, I think the race was good and we’ve got some nice stayers going forward for the spring.

“There is a good selection of races. There is the Kingston Town coming up.

“Ideally you get most of them going towards The Metropolitan and a few can head down to Melbourne at some stage too.”