Group 1 placegetter Said Com (NZ) has commenced his latest campaign in ideal fashion by taking out the $85,000, Canterbury BMW Financial Services BM 95 Handicap (1250m) on Saturday.
First up since an autumn campaign where the now four-year-old gelding was Group 1 placed in the Randwick Guineas over 1600m behind Mosheen, Said Com was understandingly sent out as favourite at Canterbury on Saturday.
Those who took the odds on about him no doubt endured some nervous moments when the Chris Waller trained galloper under Nash Rawiller missed the kick and also gave the early leader Welkom Gold a huge head start upon straightening.
Class prevailed eventually however with Said Com (58.5kg) arriving just in time against the pattern of racing on the day to win over Wellkom Gold (58.5kg) (Johannesburg) and Peter Robl with Skytrain (62kg) and Kerrin McEvoy third.
Said Com and Nash Rawiller kicks clear, picture sportpix.com.au
The margins were 1 1/4L and 1 1/4L with the time 1.13.58 on the upgraded Good 3 track with the final 600m in 36.78. Said Com paid $1.60 as favourite on NSW TAB.
“I thought the leader had the race shot to pieces with 200m to go but to the horses credit he has dug pretty deep and he's obviously got that extra gear and he has used it today,” Waller said.
“It was a tough race first up but there is no rush on him. He still has a long way to go wherever we end up. We'll just place him properly and we'll have a bit of fun.”
With a Group 1 placing already to his name, Waller hopes the O'Reilly gelding can prove it was no fluke with the leading trainer intent on targeting the Epsom Handicap this spring.
“He is a very handy horse,” Waller said.
“He showed that the day he just got beat by Mosheen who is a very good horse in her own right. That was basically his first serious race preparation and he ran second in a Group 1 so he is obviously up to that class.”
It was the first time Nash Rawiller had partnered Said Com with their success providing the leading hoop with a race to race double having saluted aboard Vantage Point the run prior.
“He gave me a beautiful feel throughout the race,” Rawiller said.
“He relaxed very well in the run.
“Those Group placings he's run are just unbelievable form lines. He's run second to Laser Hawk before and I've got an unbelievable opinion of him.
“I think he is a very high class horse and it is good to see him back here and kicking off his campaign so well.”
Said Com's victory was also the fourth of the day trainer Chris Waller celebrated.
Stout Hearted, Relaxed And Happy plus Madam Nash were others from the stable to have tasted success earlier on the program.
Said Com is by O'Reilly out of the Centaine mare Centa Belt and this was his third win from just eight starts. With four placings he has earned stakes of $246,600 for owner Neville Morgan.
Picture ATC