John Wheeler won a New Zealand Cup with Pentathon and he could be back at Riccarton a year from now for a repeat performance with a close relation.

The Taranaki trainer produced Pentathlon to win the lower grade staying event over 2500 metres on the middle day of the carnival this afternoon in the hands of Lisa Allpress.

“He’s a dead-set staying horse and he’s by Pentire – he had the lady rider on so it was an omen,” said Wheeler, referring to Michelle Payne’s historic Melbourne Cup victory aboard Prince of Penzance.

“He got a lovely run from a wide draw and everything panned out well, he won nicely.”

He purchased Pentathlon, a three-quarter brother to Pentathon, out of Goodwood’s 2013 Select Sale consignment to Karaka for $85,000. 

“He’s a really nice horse and he’s got everything going for him,” Wheeler said.