A WELL-TIMED run by Dean Holland allowed the Paul Preusker-trained Kapaulenko to win the Warracknabeal Cup on Saturday.
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The six-year-old was made to work right to the line in order to beat out Darren Weir’s Rock Forthe Ladies in the $30,000 cup.
Preusker said he knew his gelding had a good chance prior to the cup.
“His form had been good and we knew the race was going to run to suit him,” he said.
After 2017 cup-winner War Story was one of three pre-race stratchings it was Sandhill Warrior that set the pace through the early stages.
It led by two lengths from Straight Jacket over the first 700m before the field started to reel it in.
With just over 500m left in the 1600m cup the chasing pack started to attack as Holland, on Kapualkeno, and Jarrod Lorensini, on Rock Forthe Ladies, made their moves off the fence.
Lorensini had overhauled Jarrod Fry on Straight Jacket with 200m to go but Holland was not to be left behind.
The pair burst free from the field and a lunge on the line saw the result fall in favour of Holland.
Preusker said he was confident Kapaulenko would get up in the battle to the line.
“You know that when he’s there in a dog-fight he’ll just keep giving,” Preusker said.
“Once I saw him get a couple of bumps then straighten up I certainly knew he’d be in for the fight.
“He’s a good tough, honest horse and he really hasn’t put many bad runs in.”
Radicial finished two and half lengths further back in third while Terry and Katrina O’Sullivan’s Patch Adams crossed the line fourth.
