She revelled in the heavy going to bounce back to her best and win for the
sixth time in her 13-start career when successful in the Aongatete Coolstores
Limited Premier (1200m).Raced by Sir Peter Vela, Sleeping Beauty had struggled in the opening two runs of her current campaign on ground firmer than is her preference.
"Her two trials before her first two runs were super and we thought she was flying, but she ran into a couple of tracks that were too good," said Andrew Scott, who trains with Lance O'Sullivan.
"Sir Peter and (racing manager) Gary Cossey have been really patient. This was her first run for seven weeks, so that was a question mark, and it's fantastic to see her back in form now the winter tracks are here."
Sleeping Beauty was ridden by the stable apprentice Taiki Yanagida and he had the Rip Van Winkle mare in the hunt early and she proved superior in the run home.
"It was a good ride, he showed good judgement in letting her slide up to the leader so it's good for his confidence," Scott said.
"The weight relief was a massive help, with 52.5kg it brought her right into the race."
Sleeping Beauty challenged the front-runner Temple Tiger 250m from the post and
edged clear to win by three-quarters of a length."I'm really happy. The four kilo claim helped her and she loves wet tracks," Yanagida said.
Sleeping Beauty is one of over 30 winners in New Zealand this season for Galileo's champion son Rip Van Winkle, whose best offspring this season include New Zealand stakes-winners Seraphim and Pendleton, while in Australia he has sired Group III Hawkesbury Gold Cup winner Kingsguard.
Rip Van Winkle sired three winners on Saturday, two of them in Australia, where he has sired metropolitan winners Chatelard and Only Tiger in the past month.
Rip Van Winkle is the sire of 22 stakes-winners worldwide and stands at a fee of $12,500 this year.
Rip Van Winkle is the sire of 22 stakes-winners worldwide and stands at a fee of $12,500 this year.
