Seven year old St Andrew displayed a tough performance to win the $20,000 Channel 7 Class 5 Handicap over 1690m at Ipswich today.
Carrying top weight with 57.5kg, Ryan Wiggins took St Andrews straight to the front to control the race. He rolled along nice and relaxed in the lead, stealing some easy sectionals during the first half of the race. A mid race move from Jim Byrne on Talon Lady put pressure on St Andrews at the half mile mark,but Wiggins slightly increased the tempo and let the big kiwi galloper stride along. Headed in the straight, St Andrews fought on well down the running and started to draw clear in the end to win by nearly a length.
St Andrews was having his second start for his new stable after finishing second at the Gold Coast first up over 1400m.
Congratulations to the owners.