Thistledo might be a rising 11-year-old, and before racing at Wagga on Tuesday, his most recent win was at Corowa in March 2021.
Still, the old stager has demonstrated that age is no barrier, with the veteran recording a gutsy win in the 1600m Benchmark 74 Handicap.
Trained by Gundagai and Southern Districts legend David’ Darky’ Blundell and ridden an absolute treat by Kayla Nisbet, the Zariz gelding out of Comeback Queen jumped well from gate five and sat just on the leader’s heels before turning for home.
Thistledo – one of the despised outsiders at $17 – then found the front before gallantly holding on for a 0.01 of a length win over the Mitchell Beer-trained Silverdale Chief (Nick Souquet, $5.50), while in third and 1.17 lengths behind was the Keith Dryden-trained Wichita Warrior (Nick Heywood, $15).
For Blundell, who’s recently battled cancer, the trainer was tickled pink to see the old boy get up for the win.
“The old fella knows what to do,” Blundell said.
“I thought it might have been slightly too damp for him today, but he’s fit at the moment and happy, and it was a good ride by Kayla.”
Blundell has always joked that Thistledo is a colt stuck in an old gelding’s body, and he again described a happy horse that simply loves racing.
“He doesn’t know that,” Blundell quipped when reminded of his old stager’s age.
“He still thinks he’s three; don’t worry; he’s a good old horse to train, and he lets you know what he wants to do daily.
“It’s just a matter of keeping him happy and some miles under his legs.”
In a tactically perfect ride, Nisbet got everything out of Thistledo, but she was only confident she had won once the numbers flashed up on the Wagga semaphore board.
“Not quite; I don’t like getting too confident in those tight finishes, but it was a relief to get the win,” Nisbet replied when asked if she knew she had won when crossing the line.
According to Nisbet, the win was well-deserved, with the pair made to work for it.
“He has actually been racing really well, but he just needs things to go his way,” Nisbet said.
“I thought the heavy track today might be a bit of a concern, but he flew out of the barriers, he got a lovely run, and I thought, we want a nice speed up in front.
“He just dragged me into the race from the corner, and he did give a bit of a kick, and he sort of floundered late and was on his legs, but he did enough to win.”
Nisbet enjoyed a good day at Wagga, and in another good ride, she won on the Doug Gorrel-trained Would Be King in the 2000m Benchmark 66 Handicap.
Another popular campaigner in the Southern Districts, the rising nine-year-old started a $26 chance and toughed it out in front over the ten furlongs, winning by 0.16 of a length from the Ben Brisbourne-trained Pachino (Josh Richards, $4), while in third and 0.34 of a length back in third was the Troy Lorback-trained Sleigh’s Belle (Hannah Williams, $21).
For all results from Wagga, click here.
Author’s Hoofnote – how good is it to see the ‘old fellas’ winning races
Is there anything better than the old stagers getting up to beat their younger rivals?
Thistledo and Would be King are two of this writer’s favourite Southern Districts horses.
I’ve followed Thistledo since an impressive three wins from four starts at Goulburn and Gundagai back in 2019.
He went on to finish third in the Southern Districts Country Championships qualifier back in 2020, and he’s placed in town and at the provincials while taking on some of the best country sprinters across the state.
After finishing second in the Young Cup late last month, it’s great to see Thistledo still racing at his best.
It’s also a testament to his late sire, Zariz, who continually threw tough, honest gallopers.
Would be King, on the other hand, is by Lethal Force and out of Smart Coco, and was purchased out of Ireland and raced by Chris Waller and Tim Donnelly before finding a home with the Gorrel yard.
He was popular on the picnic circuit in 2022, winning the Grenfell and Cootamundra Picnic Cups, and he finished second in the Tumut Mile that same year.
He’s a tough old boy, and it appears connections will be having some fun with their 63-start veteran this preparation.
