Sledmere Stud sales graduate Icebath (NZ) finally met her date with destiny at Flemington on Day One of the 2022 Melbourne Cup Carnival when scoring a remarkable victory in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m).
One of the most talented racemares in training for the past few seasons, it was almost beyond belief that Icebath (NZ) was still in search of her maiden black-type victory as a seasoned 6-year-old after a litany of outstanding performances in stakes company.
Well, the Waikato Stud-bred daughter of Sacred Falls put that anomaly right in no uncertain terms with a miraculous victory thanks to an inspired ride by Craig Williams.
Slow away and back in the field for most of the contest, Icebath (NZ) made a prolonged challenge up the inside fence in the Flemington straight before hitting the front close to the line and scoring by half-a-length. In so doing, this bonny mare took her earnings to over $5.2 million — thanks mainly to the supreme placement and handling of Hawkesbury-based trainer Brad Widdup.
https://twitter.com/SledmereStud/status/1586240450066714627Winning rider Craig Williams was keen to praise Widdup after the victory, particularly as Icebath (NZ) was backing-up after a below par effort in The Invitation at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney seven days prior.
“Her [first] couple of runs this preparation have been against Anamoe, Zaaki; the best horses. Last time [in The Invitation] looked a bit plain but as he [Widdup] said, maybe she just had such a hard run on those heavy tracks so give her the time.
“When she came down here, Rose, who’s done the work on her said, ‘she’s really thrived’.”
Williams added: “Such a trier, such a brave mare!”
The brilliant Group 1 success of Icebath (NZ) was equally well received by everyone at Sledmere Stud and New Zealand industry leader Waikato Stud as our sales team sold her on behalf of Waikato for $100,000 at the 2018 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale in Sydney.
Sledmere Stud is expecting to consign another 13 yearlings — five for the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast and another eight for the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale in Sydney — for Waikato Stud at the beginning of next year, thus continuing an association which has met with great success as the alliance has formed and developed in more recent time.