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Live sport on SN this weekendSouthern sojourn to continue for Wire Rope
Paul Vettise, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • August 6th, 2026 11:30 am
Wire Rope (outside) will contest Saturday’s Vernon & Vazey Truck Parts Open (1400m) at Riccarton | Photo: Jane Davidson (Race Images)
Bill Thurlow is likely to extend the southern stay of his in-form sprinter Wire Rope.
The Waverley trainer will run the son of Darci Brahma in Saturday’s Vernon & Vazey Truck Parts Open (1400m) at Riccarton off the back of his Rating 75 success last weekend before handing over the reins.
Wire Rope will remain at southern headquarters in the care of local trainer Anna Furlong.
“He won’t come straight home, the plan was to run him in these two races all going well and he’ll probably stay on there with Anna,” Thurlow said.
“He’ll have one or two more runs down there, it makes sense and he’ll be reasonably well-placed and then we’ll see what we do with him.”
Wire Rope had finished a game fifth at New Plymouth before he headed to Christchurch to post his fourth career victory over Saturday’s distance.
“He came through the race very well and hasn’t missed a beat, we’re very happy with him so we’ll carry on and Toni (Davies) will ride him again,” Thurlow said.
“He’s got his fair share of ability, and he just likes wet ground, if there’s a bit of rain around close to the day that suits him.
“He’s beautiful to have around the place, but he can get on the toe on raceday unfortunately, that’s his only issue.”
Thurlow is flying solo again after training in partnership with Sam O’Malley last season, with 16 winners to their credit.
He will also have five runners in action at Sunday’s Egmont meeting at Hawera, with Staphanos mare Sight Unseen tipped as his leading light when she steps out in the Fil Dairy Cow Care & Hygiene Maiden (1400m).
She has placed twice from four appearances and was an encouraging second when resuming on her home track last month. Floor Moerman will be aboard the five-year-old again.
“She’s probably my best chance, she’s a horse that can go through the grades,” Thurlow said.
Meanwhile, the well-performed Whangaehu is in the early stages of what could be the Proisir gelding’s last preparation.
“He’s just doing a bit of pre-training at the moment and then he’ll come back in a month or so,” Thurlow said.
“We’ll probably have one more go with him, we’ll see how he goes later in the spring and more toward the summer.”
Whangaehu has won eight races, including the Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2100m) and Listed Wanganui Cup (2040m), and ran third in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) behind the top weight-for-age duo of El Vencedor and La Crique.
His best effort in a four-start preparation earlier this year was an open handicap placing at Ellerslie.
