Hippopus dominates in Canberra Cup

With a dominant all-the-way win in yesterday’s Listed Canberra Cup, Karaka graduate Hippopus (NZ) (High Chaparral) made an emphatic return to winning form.

The six-year-old gelding is a decorated stayer who has contested several major races including the Australian Derby, Doomben Cup and Brisbane Cup. However, despite a string of commendable performances, he hadn’t been in the winner’s circle since April 2013. But with yesterday’s outstanding victory he turned things around in great style.

Ridden by Tim Clark, Hippopus went straight to the lead in the 2000-metre contest and ran his rivals into submission. He never looked like being headed and went to the line unchallenged to win by two and a quarter lengths.

Neil Paine, stable representative for trainer Gai Waterhouse, said the Canberra Cup win brought months of planning to fruition.

"She's over the moon,” Paine told the Sydney Morning Herald. “Gai gets excited winning any race, let alone the Canberra Cup. She's screaming down the phone she's so happy.

"It was an impressive win. The instructions were to lead, Gai wanted him to lead because he's a fit horse, so Gai wanted him to bowl along in front. Gai always says, 'Catch me if you can'.

"Gai will have a race picked out over the Sydney carnival, The Championships, I would say. I leave that up to Gai. He'll be racing at The Championships in Sydney.”

It was the fifth win from 29 starts for Hippopus, who has also been placed seven times and has earned A$440,470 in stakes. This was his second stakes win, having earlier claimed the VRC St Leger.

A son of the Danske mare Straight Eight, Hippopus was bred by the Alchemy Family Trust, Mrs M & W J Nicholl and Windsor Park Stud Ltd. He is a half or full-brother to three other winners including the stakes performer Mapmaker (NZ) (Volksraad).

Offered by Windsor Park Stud at the 2011 Premier Sale, Hippopus was bought by Gai Waterhouse for $350,000. He is raced by J W L Tan, Mrs G C Y Wong and Miss G W C Tan.