Master of Wine proved to be a master of the wet track at Rosehill on Saturday by winning the Group 3 Sky High Stakes (2000m) by a comfortable three lengths.
The five-year-old German import was second-up after winning a BM 100 race at Rosehill three weeks ago and was installed as the favourite to get the job done in a small nine-horse field for the second time in a row.
Angel of Truth took up the lead from the barriers while Master of Wine and jockey Tommy Berry took up an inside position on the rails. Once the field swung around the bend, the pair took up the lead at the 300m mark down the middle of the straight and didn’t look back.
“I got to say second up 2000m he was a little bit keen, they didn’t go all that quick, but when he got the split he picked up for me and I was able to hold him well into the straight” Berry said.
“I’m glad I was able to do that because he wasn’t at home on that heavy track.”
Winning trainer Michael Hawkes paid Berry plenty of credit after the race and said he could potentially back up with Master of Wine next week in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m).
Master of Wine has firmed into a $5.00 chance with Ladbrokes ahead of the race, but Hawkes went on to say that nothing was set in stone.
“He may back up next week in the Ranvet. We will see how we go. It’s all up to him but he is going the right way and today’s run was pretty good.”
Mustajeer found the line strongly to flash home late for second and now holds a nomination for both the Group 1 Sydney Cup and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes back at Randwick on April 11.
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