A grand old campaigner, Waisake stood up to be counted for the further he went

WAISAKE has had his share of ups and downs in the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m), but as a nine-year-old, the Taranaki stayer stepped out in the big race again in 2024. Named after the cult Super Rugby Highlanders player, Waisake Naholo, the ZED gelding made his Wellington Cup debut in 2021 carrying a weight of 53 kilograms and ridden by Samantha Collett. The gelding, trained by Alan Sharrock and out of a ZABEEL mare in KINCIA, displayed remarkable endurance and achieved a decisive victory after moving wider at the 400m mark to deliver a strong finish, defeating BLUEY'S CHANCE and JUSTAMAIZ.

Beginning in November of 2017, Waisake secured his first win a year later over 1800m at New Plymouth. He would notch up another in January of 2019 over 2100m at Trentham, charging up late to the line in his customary style. In September 2020 he won the Redwood Trophy at Hastings finishing best over RIPCHORD, and then again at Otaki in November. Before the Cup, Waisake won at Trentham over 2200m with a powerful finish which topped him off nicely for the feature two weeks later. In March after sharing the silverware in the 3200m event, Waisake would excel at 2600m, again at Wellington and proving dominant.

That same plan began to take shape when WAISAKE was successful over 2000 metres during the Hastings Spring carnival, with Sharrock carefully plotting a path to have his charge at peak for his Trentham assignment. However, the pre-post favourite was a shock withdrawal days out from the race and spent the next 10 months on the sidelines with a tendon injury. It bought to an end a lengthy campaign trainer Sharrock looked to have timed to perfection. The outstanding stayer had been slow to come up, but appeared to have turned the corner and was on target for the Cup after his trainer added blinkers to Waisake's gear and built up his overall physical stamina.

WAISAKE returned for the 2023 edition of the Cup, but was tripped up by a Heavy10 track and finished down the field in 10th. The quality stayer returned to the scene of his biggest triumph and added the $55,000 Listed New Zealand St Leger (2600m) to his trophy cabinet. The race was run at Trentham, where Waisake won the Wellington Cup (3200m). Bought for a megre $1100 at the 2015 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale, and for $28,000 at the Karaka Festival Sale the following year, Waisake stood out as a strong veteran who thrived on hard on racing.

After a tidy third to MAHARJAAN in the 160th edition of the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup in November 2023, he would repeat the effort in the Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2100m) in January 2024. Super fit and ready to rumble, Waisake would dislodge his rider in the 2024 Wellington Cup after striking heels and blundering in the run at the 2600m mark. Nothing good came from that effort and Waisake struggled in the 2024 Auckland Cup, sitting back and wide for most of the journey, again won by MAHARJAAN in fine style. After 50 starts it was decided the hard-nosed gelding had given his all and retirement was due.

RACE RECORD - 50: 8-2-5

EARNINGS - $367,105

G3 Wellington Cup

LR New Zealand St Leger

G3 Trentham Stakes