BACK TO BACK WINS FOR A POSSIBLE EMERGING STAYER

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, June 28, 2023

Inuwashi, an Irish-bred son of Free Eagle, made it two city wins in-a-row when he took out a BM72 Handicap over 2212m at Eagle Farm on June 28.

A touch of irony here was that on this occasion Inuwashi, who had previously been trained by Chris Waller, beat Chernak, a current Chris Waller trained runner, home to get the chocolates.

Inuwashi and Chernak were the two favourites for the race at $3 and $3,70 respectively, and they duly finished in the order suggested by the betting boards after the race had unfolded in an interesting way.

Inuwashi was tardy away and, as with his previous win, he went back after the break … this time settling right at the rear of the field racing some two lengths behind the second last horse as the field passed the winning post for the first time.

That second last placed horse was Chernak.

While the two main fancies took on a holding brief at the rear through the first half of the race, Inuwashi was having the more comfortable passage of the two as Chernak was pulling hard, running onto heels and having to be restrained on more than on occasion.

With 1000m left to run Ben Thompson started what was to be a concerted, methodical move forward, going past Chernak and improving steadily from that point on.

Ironically, with Inuwashi going past him, Jimmy Orman now had a point of focus on Chernak, who, having settled better, got on the back of the Inuwashi and began to match the strategy being used on the favourite.

There was still a long way to go, but that early move by Thompson with regard to the threat of Chernak, arguably would prove to be a winning one because, although Chernak followed Inuwashi around the field in the sweep to the home turn and cornered very much in contention … Inuwashi and Chernak corned six and seven wide respectively … try as the Chernak might he could not overturn the advantage that Inuwashi had stolen from him in the back straight.

Not that Chernak didn’t make a brave attempt … he certainly did that … but Inuwashi was tough as nails in the fight for supremacy, just has he had been in his previous win … as he held off Chernak by 0.71 lengths at the line.

Inuwashi’s two wins (over 2040m and 2212m) for the Sears stable to date … while only at midweek level … underlined not only the staying prowess possessed by Inuwashi (this latest win came via a really long, sustained run), but they also underlined his willingness to take on a fight … two attributes which you can’t help feeling will serve him well in the future.

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