Vessem wins Northern Southland Cup

Bruce Stewart Journalist

Vessem (Vincent) enjoyed the torrid pace in today’s $40,000 G3 Macca Lodge Northern Southland Cup and proved too good for what was touted as the best field in some years.

“He likes the speed on because he’s a pretty good stayer,” driver Olivia Thornley said.

There was plenty of action up front early, with Always Dreaming, Wag Star and Franco Sinatra all taking turns leading.

Thornley eased Vessem off the inside running line to sit parked, before cover arrived in the form of Hadron Collider. At that point Beach Day progressed around the field with a lap to run to take up the running. Just before turning in, Thornley eased Vessem out three wide and under a strong drive, ran the five year old home, beating Franco Sinatra by a length and a quarter with a neck back to Wag Star in third.

“He’s a funny wee bugger. He travels nice but you still have to keep at him. He’s quite lazy and we still had a lap full of horse. The other ones had done a bit of work so it worked out perfectly,” Thornley said.

Vessem, trained by Hayden and Amanda Cullen, hadn’t won since May last year, trained at that time by Mark and Nathan Purdon. That win was in the G2 Superstars Championship with Thornley at the reins.