From career in doubt to Wyndham Cup winner

Jo Gordon owned and trained horse Sutherland has won the 2023 Wyndham Cup.

Invercargill owner-trainer Jo Gordon with the Wyndham Cup after winning the feature race with Sutherland at Gore today.

• Jamie Searle is a long-time racing writer. For more of his work head to the Southland Thoroughbred Facebook page.

Sutherland, whose racing career was in doubt two and a-half months ago, won today's Wyndham Cup at Gore.

The win was a pleasant surprise for his Invercargill owner-trainer Jo Gordon.

"I didn't think he had a chance [on the firm track]," she said.

"[However,] he got a soft lead and only had 54kg on his back."

Sutherland caused concern when finishing a distant last at Riverton on January 1, with subsequent veterinary tests confirming the gelding had suffered a cardiac arrhythmia during the race.

Gordon gave him a week off before bringing him up slowly for a race at Ascot Park on February 9. Sutherland won and then was unplaced nine days later at the Invercargill Gold Cup meeting. 

That was his most recent start going into today's Cup race.

Winning jockey Krishna Mudhoo heads to the weigh in area following his win on Sutherland in the Wyndham Cup at Gore today.

Meanwhile, Ascot Park trainer Sally McKay trained the first two home in the Three Rivers Hotel Fireside Cup.

Henry Hubber finished with big strides out wide to beat stablemate Earl Of Orkney by a length, with a length and a-quarter to The Good Shepherd third.

McKay struck again in the next race with Fire 'N Reign in the Gore Elite Plumbing/Advance Agriculture Maiden. 

Trainer Sally McKay with Fire 'N Reign, left, Earl Of Orkney, middle, and Henry Hubber after they raced at Gore today. Fire 'N Reign won, while Henry Hubber and Earl Of Orkney finished first and second, respectively, in the same race.

Waikato owner-breeder John Bishop owns Henry Hubber and leases Earl Of Orkney to a group of people including McKay.    

McKay said Henry Hubber liked to have plenty of room in his races.

"With an uninterrupted run he can really stretch out."

Henry Hubber, who has won four of 16 starts, will be considered for the Southland (April 2) and Riverton (April 8) meetings.

Fire 'N Reign, bought at the Karaka yearling sales in 2020 by Peter Dobson, cleared maiden ranks today. 

Dobson races Fire 'N Reign with Bruce Sinclair, Greg McLellan and Jamie Agnew. The quartet live in the Wyndham/Edendale areas.