Tough stayer Ransomed (NZ) repaid the faith of his followers with an upset victory in the G1 Spring Classic (2040m) at Hastings on Saturday.

Unwanted at $31, the Awapuni based gelding burst through late in the straight to defeat Nashville and Survived in a close finish to the third-leg of the Hawke’s Bay Triple Crown

Ransomed (6g Handsome Ransom – Ski Queen by Sky Filou) was one of the outsiders after tailing the field in the G1 Windsor Park Plate.  “After his last run here, Johnathon (Parkes) came back in and said to just forget he went around,” trainer Gary Vile explained.  “He slipped and lost his footing a couple of times on the rain-affected track.

“That’s my first Group 1,” Vile said.  “I don’t have a lot of horses in Group 1 races because I sell too many, but this horse is just a beauty.”

Vile races the six-year-old with Jean Walsh, wife of the late Taranaki trainer Frank Walsh – who in earlier years had enjoyed outstanding success with the likes of quality gallopers Koporoa, Counsel, Marinoto and Maria Mitchell.

Ransomed is a son of Handsome Ransom (Red Ransom) who stands at Wellfield Lodge for a $4,400 (inc gst) service fee.  He is based at the Palmerston North stud alongside Alamosa (O’Reilly) and Road To Rock (Encosta de Lago).