Hero Worship Salutes his Fan Club

Hero Worship (4 g Xtravagant - Idol, by Fastnet Rock) enhanced his home track record with an astonishing performance in the $30,000 CW Cole Racing Rating 65 1050 metres on Saturday at Matamata.

Emulating his Maiden course win when racing clear to score by two and three-quarter lengths over 1200 metres in September, Hero Worship had since staged notable efforts for fifth and sixth, respectively, and had no trouble overcoming barrier nine or dropping back in distance.

Taken back to last by Te Akau apprentice Niranjan Parmar, eight lengths off the lead at the 600m, Hero Worship picked a path better than Moses when storming between runners, as if they were standing still, and going on to win impressively.

Easing up one and three-quarter lengths clear at the line, Hero Worship ran 1050 metres in 1:02.5, last 600m in 34.8, on Soft 5 footing, and paid well over the odds ($23.80 & $4.50) on the NZ TAB tote.

“He's taken a while to come right, but he loves the home track and it means he doesn't have to travel,” said trainer Mark Walker.

“You always know you're going to get a nicely irrigated track at Matamata, and Graeme Styles and his staff do a superb job of managing the track and training centre.

“Horses run really well here because they don't feel the ground when it's got the right amount of give.

On hand to collect the spoils, owners Ashley Goodwin and Suzanne Selak were delighted with the performance.

“To have this horse win like he did is just fantastic,” Goodwin said. “On behalf of the syndicate, I'd like to thank Te Akau for the way they train the horses and also to the Matamata Racing Club and race sponsor for putting the race on.

“It was a really good ride by Parmar. He rode him patiently and the horse has gone past them two-to-one.”

Owned by Te Akau Hero Worship Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), he was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $220,000 at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Newhaven Park, NSW.

Ellis also purchased his sire, Xtravagant (Pentire), as a yearling at Karaka, who became a breathtaking winner of the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) and stands alongside Cool Aza Beel (Savabeel), another Group One winner bought by Ellis, at Newhaven Park.

“It was another exciting win by Hero Worship and always a special thrill to win a race with a stallion that we bought as a yearling and trained to win two Group One races, and become Champion 3YO of his year,” Ellis said.

“There was probably a question as to whether he could get back over a short trip and pick them up, but he had no problem, did it stylishly, and what a great ride by Parmar.

“We had our 50^thwin for the season on Friday when La Flora Belle won at New Plymouth, and three more so far today, so it's exciting for everyone.”

Hero Worship was strapped by Rasheed Alam.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz