A sustained run from back in the field powered We Salute You into a group one.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Wagga trainer-driver Brett Woodhouse set the four-year-old a big task at Riverina Paceway on Friday but he was up to the challenge to take out the fourth heat of the Regional Championships.
Storming around the field, We Salute You ($2.20) held off All Good ($13), who came through the sprint lane, to win by 2.1 metres.
Woodhouse was pleased his brave tactics worked after heading off three wide with around 1200 metres to run after settling last.
"It didn't worry me going that early as I knew they had gone quick enough and I wanted to get up before the candy pole so that nothing would come out in front of me," Woodhouse said.
"The horses in the running line in front of me, no disrespect to them, but there wasn't real the horse that I thought could cart me into the race so I wanted to go early enough that they didn't come out underneath me.
"Once he got outside them he grabbed the bit and raced well."
We Salute You now joins younger half-sister Maajida in qualifying for a group one.
He was originally sent to Woodhouse for the delayed four-year-old feature series.
Coronavirus then saw this series revamped but it very well could have worked out for the better.
"There wasn't much you could do about that but it is probably good in our favour as only two Riverina horses would have qualified for the Million Dollar Pace and we probably would have missed out," Woodhouse said.
"Now we get to run in a big final."
However after impressive performances from the likes of Western Sonador and Whereyabinboppin in earlier heats the Wagga trainer-driver is taking a more relaxed approach heading into the final on May 22.
"It is very exciting and it will be a long couple of weeks with a few sleepless nights but one thing when you are in a race when there are two horses clearly above us then there is no pressure on us," Woodhouse said.
"We will just be going out there to try and take short cuts and hang onto them."
READ MORE