The magic touch of leading rider Chris Johnson helped Mr Intelligence bounce back to form in the Wyndham Cup at Gore yesterday.
Johnson gave the 4yr-old an economical run before he launched a big finish to win the 2000m feature for Tapanui trainers Nikki and Barry Blatch.
Mr Intelligence had been disappointing in his last two starts at Wingatui and Ascot Park after going an excellent race for second behind Sitarist in the Dunedin Gold Cup.
Johnson found cover for the Niagra gelding late in the race.
"It was a great ride by Chris," Nikki Blatch said.
"He [Mr Intelligence] raced up on the pace at Wingatui last time and I said to Chris today we might try to find some cover."
The Blatches were unable to pinpoint the reason for their horse’s failure — 11th of 13 runners — in the Invercargill Gold Cup.
Several of the favoured runners raced below expectations.
Almost all of Mr Intelligence’s form leading into the Wyndham Cup had been on good and dead tracks.
The Blatches had their concerns that the slow7 surface would be too sticky for their horse.
The fact he handled the going bodes well for Mr Intelligence as feature autumn racing approaches.
The Blatches will consider the 2000m Founders Cup at Riccarton for their 4yr-old before deciding whether to press on to other features.
“We will just take it one race at a time,” Blatch said
“He will probably go to the Founders Cup at Riccarton early next month and then we will take it from there.
“We don’t want to go too far into the autumn with him because we want to set him for the New Zealand Cup.”
Mr Intelligence would return a serious stayer if he continued next season the same progress he has made as a 4yr-old.
“He has still got a lot of maturing to do, both mentally and physically,” Blatch said.
Mr Intelligence won by a long neck over a game Nomen Ludi, who was in front until shortly before the post.
Sitarist was a further length away in in third.
Two other Otago stables enjoyed success at Gore yesterday.
Trainers Nikki White and Lee Callaway won a maiden 1200m race with Leighton
Warrior, ridden by Samantha Wynne, and Brian and Shane Anderton produced Chookie’s Girl to win in rating 65 grade over 2000m. The rider was Corey Campbell.
