Southern Success For Vessem

Canterbury gelding Vessem (NZ) (Vincent) made a successful southern raid over the weekend when taking out the Group Three Northern Southland Cup (2700m).

There was plenty of speed on throughout, with Vessem racing midfield until driver Olivia Thornley elected to push the Hayden and Amanda Cullen-trained five-year-old forward down the back straight with a lap to go. They quickly found the one-one, firstly behind Wag Star (NZ) (Sweet Lou) and then stablemate Hadron Collider (NZ) (Sweet Lou) when the former wrestled the lead off Franco Sinatra (NZ) (Captaintreacherous).

Thornley presented her charge three-wide when rounding the final turn and Vessem was able to show his grit when reeling in the leaders and powering away to score by 1-¼ lengths over Franco Sinatra.

Thornley said the race panned out perfectly for her charge.

“He likes the speed on because he’s a pretty good stayer,” Thornley told Southern Harness Racing. “The other ones had done a bit of work so it worked out perfectly.”

Bred by Hazel Van Opzeeland, Vessem is by Vincent and out of Imke B, a winning half-sister to Asajah (NZ) (Christian Cullen), the dam of Group One performer Shenandoah (NZ) (Somebeachsomewhere).

He was offered through Rosedale Farm’s 2022 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale draft in Christchurch where he was purchased by All Stars Racing Stables for $30,000, with Van Opzeeland retaining a share.

Vessem has gone on to win 11 of his 41 starts to date, including four at Group level, and has accrued just shy of $310,000 in prizemoney.