Top Canberra trainer Nick Olive was almost lost for words when stable favourite Voice Commander scored a thrilling win in today’s listed $144,700 Wagga Gold Cup (2000m).
Voice Commander was allowed to cruise along at the head of the field by Kathy O’Hara and after being challenged strongly by World Wide he showed great fight to get his head back in front when it counted.
Olive described the win was the “biggest thrill” of his career after cheering home his stable star in the feature country cup.
“It all went to plan to start with,” Olive said. “He faced a better class of field today and he just didn’t get away from them as I would have liked.”
“At the top of the straight I thought he was beat. He got headed.”
“He just tries his guts out. He fought so hard and just got there – I’m so proud of him.”
“This is the biggest thrill of my career. I don’t know what to say.”
“He’s been the number one horse in our stable for a long time now. He’s such a kind horse to do anything with. He’s a gentle horse and he does everything right.”
“He tries more than any other horse I’ve had anything to do with. It makes your proud of them – it’s like another child in the family.”
Connections were in no rush to announce what was next for Voice Commander – whether he is sent for a break or another race is on his agenda.
“We’ll see how he pulls up. I don’t want to make any decisions now. We’ll enjoy this – this was the aim for this preparation – we’ll see how he goes and go from there,” Olive summed up.
Winning rider Kathy O’Hara said the win gave her a great buzz and like Olive said all credit should go to Voice Commander.
“It went to plan for us,” she said. “We anticipated to lead – to roll along and hope to break the other’s hearts and to take the sprint out of any of the others who have a good turn of foot.”
“He’s fit and we thought we’d let him roll from the half mile (800m).”
“I wanted to get off the fence because the inside was getting a bit chopped out. When he got to the middle of the track he got a little lost – he wobbled around a bit, but he tried so hard.”
“He left it all on the track today. If he got beat you couldn’t say he didn’t try hard enough.”
“He’s so strong and he’s so tough.”
“It’s always nice to come to the country and win the big Cups. The atmosphere is really good here today – there’s plenty of people and you get a good cheer coming back in – it’s definitely a big thrill to win a Wagga Cup.”
Voice Commander was bred by well known South Australian horseman Greg Lesnikowski and sold through his Strathwood Park draft for $55,000 at the 2006 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
Olive took a shine to the son of Commands and he’s sure glad he did with his outstanding record now reading out at 12 wins and earnings of $718,730.
His latest stakes victory is his fourth – following success in a Festival Stakes, Frank Underwood Cup and Weetwood Handicap at Toowoomba.
He is one of four winners for the 100 per cent winner producer Voice Mail – a Brisbane winning daughter of Magic Ring.
Voice Mail in turn is a half sister to seven winners including the New Zealand based stakes winner Deerstalker.
Voice Commander’s second dam is a half sister to the Group One Victoria Oaks winner My Tristram’s Belle.
Winner: Voice Commander (Commands-Voice Mail)
Race: Murrumbidgee TC Wagga Gold Cup LR (2000m)
Sold for: $55,000
Sale: 2006 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale
Vendor: Strathwood Park
Buyer: Nick Olive
Earnings: $718,730
Owner(s): NJ Hambrook, NJ Hambrook, DL Tuckwell, Mrs KR Tuckwell, Miss AL James, Mrs LM Cullen, NJ Olive, Mrs LJ Olive & PW Agnew
Trainer: Nick Olive (Canberra)
