Kiwi Veyron claims WFA Warwick Stakes

Saturday 24 August 2013, 4:45pm

An emotional and proud trainer Linda Laing has had her faith in Veyron vindicated with the New Zealand gelding causing an upset in Saturday's Warwick Stakes.

The 1400m Group Two race featured a Group One field and although he was sent out at $21 Veyron lived up to the form that has earned him four wins at the highest level at home when he edged Streama by a half head.

Rain Affair was the $1.75 favourite but didn't get a soft lead with Streama ($4.40) pushing him all the way with Veyron heading the rest of the pack.

At the business end of the race, the pressure told on Rain Affair and he finished 1-1/2 lengths behind Streama in third.

"I'm definitely not surprised," Laing said.

"Australia didn't get to see the best of him in the autumn. After the George Ryder he got a foot injury and we took him home.

"He'll stay for the Chelmsford and the George Main Stakes. I'll put in an entry for the Epsom but we'll wait and see."

Laing brought Veyron across the Tasman for an autumn campaign but a freak accident interrupted plans and he finished eighth, beaten less than two lengths, in his only Sydney start in the George Ryder Stakes won by Pierro.

"When we came over in the autumn he stood on a palm frond at Warwick Farm on the Tuesday before the Doncaster and a blood blister developed and he missed the race," Laing said.

"Things have gone a lot better this time."

Streama's trainer Guy Walter said the mare had run up to expectations, albeit without winning.

"It was a great run," he said. "There's nothing else I can really say except that she ran very well."

Winning jockey Christian Reith said Laing had given him confidence in Veyron.

"She asked me to jump on him on Thursday to get to know him," Reith said.

"He was a little bit out his comfort zone the way the race was run.

"The mare gave a good sight but my bloke dug deep."

Reith replaced New Zealand-based Zimbabwean Rogan Norvall who is fighting to revise his work visa.

Rain Affair over-raced with Streama so close to him but his jockey Nash Rawiller said he was still pleased with the effort on a hard surface which is not to the horse's liking.

"He ran his heart out," he said.

"He's probably one run away from blowing that field away."

Doomben Cup winner Beaten Up finished fourth, the best of Chris Waller's six runners who are all on a path to Group One races during the spring.

"They all ran up to what I thought," Waller said.

– AAP

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