Cool Kuru shows his best at Rotorua
Hastings-born jockey Aaron Kuru was seen at his excellent best at Sunday’s Rotorua meeting, kicking home three of the first four winners on the eight race programme.
Kuru, 27, showed amazing patience aboard No Change in the $20,000 Rotorua & Bay Of Plenty Hunt Cup Hurdles (3000m).
He settled the 10-year-old back in sixth place and bided his time until just before the home turn when he asked his mount to improve.
No Change quickly ranged up outside the leaders and took control after jumping the last fence, racing clear in the final stages to score by threequarters of a length.
It was his third win from eight starts over hurdles and he has also recorded four minor placings in that role for owners Paul and Carol Nelson.
Look Out brought up his second success from five starts since joining the Paul Nelson stable when he outfinished Storming The Tower in the 2200m highweight at Rotorua.
Kuru had the horse leading in the early stages before taking a trail and he again waited until the home turn before peeling off the back of the leaders.
Storming The Tower looked the likely winner but Look Out gradually reeled him in and got up in the last couple of strides to score by a head.
Look Out began his racing career in the care of his Palmerston North owner Gary Freeman but was transferred to Nelson nine months ago.
Both Freeman and Nelson are part of the syndicate that now races the horse with other members being Nelson’s two brothers, David and Mark, and close friends Brian Guerin, David Holden, Stuart Mitchell, Mike Stovell and Peter Tod from Hawke’s Bay, and Manawatu’s Angus MacLeod.