Beauden wins Japac Homes Marton Cup, Listed, NZ$55,000 at Awapuni, 2200m.
Beauden has a real affinity with Awapuni. Six of his now eight wins (25 starts) have taken place here but this one, (his maiden stakes win) is easily his best.
Three wide but handy to the pace (fifth) with a circuit to run he held his position past the 1400m but starting the bend lost touch with the leaders when runners on his inner improved.
Still three wide inside from 600m he gained on the leaders to camp just three lengths off them and turned into the straight widest of all.
Once balanced he kept up a strong run, ranged alongside at the 200m then bolted clear despite giving his opponents at least 4kg in an excellent Wellington Cup trial.
Veteran Sampson (10YO) was second starting the bend out of the back straight, co-led from the 500m and from the top of the straight and tried hard all the way to the line.
Soleseifei went up to fourth from the 800m, made a line of three turning in and kept going strongly, finding more late for third. Toms finished on quite well from midfield for fourth.
