Splurging out

Promising galloper Splurge got the day started on the right note for the powerful Te Akau Racing team at Ellerslie on Saturday when he added another victory to his burgeoning record. The four-year-old Savabeel gelding had been an impressive winner at the track on Boxing Day before suffering an interrupted run at Trentham where he was beaten into second behind classy mare Volks Lightning. Punters were keen on his chances to go one better on the weekend and they weren’t disappointed as he produced a dogged finish in the hands of Danielle Johnson to claim the Ophthalmic Instrument Company sponsored rating 85 1200 metre event. ‘‘He continues to step up every time he comes to the races,’’ co-trainer Jaimee Richards he said.