Strong Report – 27th May
Weather, fine; track, soft (5)
Race 1
Memories of the late Riccarton trainer Neill Ridley were revived after the win of Enough Said in the Positive Signs Maiden (1600m). “Neill bought this horse for us as a 2yr-old at Karaka($31,000),” said part-owner Edward Corby. “He (Enough Said) was a big boy and we have been patient with him.” Enough Said, a 4yr-old by Redwood from unraced Dunbarton (a half sister to Chelmsford Stakes winner, Nevis) is raced by Corby with Kieran Corby, Steve Ridley (a son of Neill), J R Sutherland, A and L Browne Bloodstock Ltd, Dianne Logie and Lorraine Reardon. Enough Said is trained at Riccarton by Meg Cuneen. Enough Said, who was having his sixth start, unwound strongly wide out from back in the field to shade the favourite Tomyturbo (slow away) by a nose.
Photo: Enough Said (3 Jason Laking) shading Tomyturbo at the finish.
Race 2
Koputaroa, a son of the top race mare Final Touch, broke through for a win in the Continental Event Hire Maiden (1400m). Koputaroa led throughout in the hands of apprentice Megan Taylor, who claimed four kilograms. Koputaroa was having his 16th start. He is raced by breeder Karen Parsons, who trains the Pins 4yr-old gelding with husband John. They also prepared Final Touch. Koputaroa is the third foal of Final Touch, the dam of winners Final Savings and Touchabeel.
Photo: Koputaroa two lengths clear of his nearest rival at the finish.
Race 3
Scarfi was promoted to first in the Speight’s 1400m after finishing second, a nose from Midnight Runner. The placings were reversed after a protest by the connections of Scarfi (trainer Terri Rae and rider Terry Moseley. The protest was made on the grounds that Midnight Runner (Tina Comignaghi) shifted out in the closing stages and bumped Scarfi when the pair were fighting out the finish. They had been on terms over the final 350m after Midnight Runner had made the pace by three parts of a length from Scarfi. It brought up the 1200th win in New Zealand for Moseley.
Photo: Midnight Runner (inner) has his nose in front of Scarfi at the finish but the placings were reversed in the judicial room.
Race 4
Riccarton apprentice Kavish Chowdhoory rode Garden City to win for his brother, Kavirag in the Alleviate Administration 1100m for 2yr-olds. Kavirag, a wine taster in Sydney, races Garden City with Greg and Jill Datson, Sue Bourke, Don McFarlane, Steven Coles, R Freestone, Chris, Justine and Dan Fogarty, T Proctor, J Jarvis and T Day. “She is my first horse and to think I have got a 2yr-old winner is unbelievable,” said 19year-old Dan who made the trip from Christchurch to see her race. Garden City is trained at Riccarton by Michael and Matthew Pitman. “ I bought her at Karaka and syndicated her through the internet,” said Michael. Garden City, a $20,000 purchase is a filly by Tavistock from Botanic, who won two races and ranks as a half sister by Stravinsky to Diamond King, a listed race winner in South Africa. Garden City raced handy and held off Mooloolaba by half a neck. Mooloolaba staged a brilliant late run. He was last of seven at the 350m and five lengths from the lead.
Photo: Garden City with trainer Michael Pitman (left), jockey Kavish Chowdhoory and young part -owner Dan Fogarty (right)
Race 5
Milford Sound posted his second win when he led throughout the Otago Daily Times 2200m, the open handicap. “I am just so pleased to have him back winning,” said Andrew Carston, his Riccarton trainer. Milford Sound had his other win as a 3yr-old in a 1600m maiden at Riccarton in March last year. He subsequently finished second in the group three Manawatu Classic and third in the g2 Championship Stakes at Ellerslie for owners John and Sally Wigley. He failed to reproduce that form when tried in the spring as a 4yr-old. Milford Sound ran out entering the home straight but he maintained his momentum and then came clear to win by two and a quarter lengths.
Photo: Milford Sound (Kozzi Asano) clear of his rivals wide on the track at the finish.
Race 6
Vicenza gave leading South Island jockey Tina Comignaghi her 72nd win for the season in the Nellies Bar and Restaurant 2200m. She gave Vicenza the run of the race behind the pacemaker Day Light and she came to the fore in the final 200m to win by half a length from Nevets with Hey Mickey close up third. Vicenza, who had been placed in three of her previous five starts, is trained by Riccarton by Danny Crozier. Comignaghi will return to her homeland of Argentina after the Riccarton meeting on Friday (June 3). “I am taking the winter off and I haven’t been home for nearly three years,’’ said Comignaghi.
Photo: Vicenza with Rachel Deegan and jockey Tina Comignaghi after her win
Terry Moseley had his second win for the day aboard Drake Bay in the Be My Guest Stationary 1400m after circumstances changed. He had ridden Drake Bay in his previous start but took the ride on Fiery Red. Chris Carmine was engaged for Drake Bay but did not attend the meeting due to transport difficulties. Moseley became available when Fiery Red was scratched. It was the first win for Drake Bay since he joined the Rangiora stable of John Blackadder 16 months ago.
Photo: Drake Bay with trainer John Blackadder(right) and jockey Terry Moseley after his win.
Race 8
Invercargill owner-trainer Sabin Kirkland has his eye on the $100,000 Winter Cup with Sea Shepherd, a dashing winner of the White Robe Lodge “I am aiming for the Winter Cup (1600m at Riccarton, August 7). I had a third in that race with Final Reality (2007),’’ said Kirkland. The 3yr-old Sea Shepherd was following up on a seven length win over 1400m on a heavy track at Invercargill with success by a margin of two lengths over the same distance on soft ground. The son of Zacinto – Sweet Revenge has now won three times from 10 starts.
Photo: Sea Shepherd with stablehand Jordan Wilson, jockey Corey Campbell and trainer Sabin Kirkland.
Race 9
Apprentice Megan Taylor trebled her winning record with a double from three rides at the meeting. Taylor had her first win on Jimmy Who at Washdyke in June last year. She was having her 77th race ride when she won the Continental Event Hire Maiden (1400m) on Koputaroa in race 2. Taylor, again claiming four kilograms repeated her front riding tactics on Amberecho and in between times had a third on Hey Mickey. “It was a great result and I just keep watching and learning,’’ said Taylor (24). She learned a lot about horses working in Wiltshire for Tim and Jonelle Price, who are prominent in eventing circles. She is now one of three apprentices with Riccarton trainer Andrew Carston. The others are Kozzi Asano and Sanu Toolooa.
Amberecho has now had three wins and five placings from eight starts.
Photo: Megan Taylor after her win on Amberecho.
Race 10
The successful jockey Samantha Wynne won with the first horse she has had to the races as a trainer when Fettercairn led throughout the Rugby at The Races- Last Few Spots Available (1600m). The win was special for a variety of reasons.
“She is named from where I come from in Ireland, I bought her for $900 and I broke her in and race her with family and friends,’’ said Wynne, who rode Fettercairn. The owners include her parents Linda and Peter Wynne and parents in-law John and Denise Stewart and Tommy Beckett, a semi-retired Invercargill trainer. Wynne rode the Beckett-trained Miss Three Stars in 10 or her 11 wins including a Winter Cup and two Riverton Cups.
Photo: Samantha Wynne and Tommy Beckett after the win of Fettercairn.