Gai Waterhouse Classic win caps sweet day for Vlad Duric

Former Sydney-trained mare Wollombi has capped a successful afternoon for Vlad Duric, giving the experienced jockey a treble with her slashing come-from-behind victory in the Gai Waterhouse Classic at Ipswich.

Duric notched earlier wins on her Tony Gollan-trained stablemate Rockribbed and Hedged for Mick Price and Michael Kent (Jnr), but it was Wollombi’s Listed success that was the icing on the cake.

Starting at $12 with betting apps, the daughter of Extreme Choice drifted back to settle among the tailenders but unleashed a withering burst of acceleration to mow down barn mate Bezique ($9) by a half-length, with Party For Two ($5 fav) holding down third.

Duric said a strong early tempo aided Wollombi, despite the mare getting further back than anticipated.

“They went very quick. I was a lot further back than Tony and I planned,” Duric said.

“But once I got out, she just exploded for me. Very impressive win.”

Formerly with Peter and Paul Snowden in Sydney, Wollombi was purchased by Yulong Investments for $500,0000 at the recent Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

She delivered her new owners an immediate result, although Gollan admitted he wasn’t sure if he was going to get her peaking in time for Saturday’s feature.

“I wasn’t sure where I was at with her a couple of weeks ago,” Gollan said.

“She had to make up a bit of ground quickly and I thought the last ten days she made it up nicely.

“We came her quietly confident first run for the stable.

“I watched a lot of her replays down south and she really suited a race like this.”

The Gai Waterhouse Classic (1200m) was Wollombi’s second black-type win following her victory in the Group 3 The Vanity (1400m) at Flemington in February last year.