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Live EPL this MondayLatest Model struts her stuff in St Leger
Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • March 22nd, 2026 6:00 pm
Latest Model pictured on her way to winning the Life Direct NZ St Leger (2500m) at Trentham on Saturday | Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images)
Gary Vile is tipping a bright future for Latest Model following her win in the Life Direct NZ St Leger (2500m) at Trentham on Saturday.
The five-year-old mare has shown the Awapuni trainer plenty of promise in her 24 previous starts, notching three victories, and he always thought she would be better suited over ground and she got her opportunity to show her staying qualities in the St Leger.
Jockey Elen Nicholas, who rode Latest Model to a dead-heat victory at the Upper Hutt track in her only other ride on the mare, was content to sit off the pace during the early stages of the race.
Nicholas asked her charge to improve three-wide with 700m to go and hit the lead turning for home. While Nicholas feared she may have gone too soon, Latest Model showed her tenacity with a gritty finish and held off the fast-finishing Freebelle to win by a short half head.
Nicholas, who remains unbeaten on the mare, had to work hard to make the 52kg weight allocation and said the win made it all worthwhile.
“I got my weight down to 52kg to ride her, which is a tough effort,” Nicholas said.
“I almost felt like I had gone a bit too soon at the top of the straight, but she persevered the whole way to the line and it worked out perfectly.”
Vile was rapt with the win and rates her alongside a couple of her stakes-winning stable predecessors.
“I have been blessed over the years to have three good stayers – Jacksstar, who is probably the best I have had, Rock On, and this girl us up with them,” he said.
“She found the line very well at her last start, her first start in open company, and I knew 2500m wasn’t going to worry her.
“I didn’t go to the Wellington Cup (Gr.3, 3200m) and maybe I made a mistake going to the Remutaka ($350,000, 2100m) and we didn’t have much luck in that, but she has won the St Leger and anywhere else in the world this is a horse maker.”
Vile said Latest Model will now head for a spell while he maps out a plan towards feature staying targets.
“She is going to go to the paddock for a little while,” he said.
The win secured a winning double for Vile and Nicholas, who teamed up earlier in the day to win the Metroclad 2100 with Helluvah Return.
