Hellsing rises to occasion for well-earned win at Randwick

By Mitch Cohen of Racenet

Consistent import Hellsing relished a significant drop in class to end a year-long run of near misses at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

The Irish galloper found a crack at the Group 1 Doncaster Mile too tough during the Sydney carnival but was right at home in the Benchmark 100 (1500m).

Trainers Annabel and Rob Archibald saddled up four contenders in the penultimate event and got the perfect result as Hellsing scored his first win since April 12 last year.

Hellsing had finished among the placings on four occasions this campaign before finally enjoying his day in the sun when edging out Encap.

"I am delighted for Hellsing, he has been knocking at the door," Annabel Archibald said.

"He has had three seconds, I think he had two seconds here and in the Muswellbrook Cup, and just the ground and maybe the class in the Doncaster found him out.

"Back in grade, 1500m here I think is his sweet spot and it was a nice ride by Tom Sherry as well."

The Archibalds had four of the first five runners past the post with Cristal Clear  leading them up and holding on for third while Depth Of Character and Port Lockroy hit the line to finish fourth and fifth respectively.

Jockey Tom Sherry had Hellsing following Cristal Clear in the run before he was able to shake off the challenge of Gary Portelli's Encap over the concluding stages.

"He is a lovely horse," Sherry said.

"I think he was really well placed today by the team after he put a couple of good runs in, he was probably due a win.

"The race just mapped out beautifully, we had a nice cart off the leader and he is tough, honest and tried hard."

Archbald felt all four of the stable's runners performed with plenty of merit.

"They've all run super," she said.

"There wasn't a whole lot of speed on paper and I wasn't sure who was going to lead of my two.

"Cristal Clear just had to do a little bit of work early to cross but they have both gone terrifically.”