Ryder and the storm
THE Ryder Stakes, won impressively by Manhattan Street, turned out to be the last race at Otaki yesterday.
Stewards decided not to run the remaining two races because the track had become waterlogged and caused visibility problems for jockeys. A group of jockeys, trainers and race officials met with stewards and all agreed to call the meeting off.
Steward Neil Goodwin said heavy rain just before the Ryder was held saturated the track.
The bleak conditions and horses’ hooves flicking water into the faces of jockeys made it difficult for them to see.
The worst part of the track was at the 800m.
With the last two races not run, the TAB’s $100,000 Terminating Turbo Pick6 was abandoned. All bets were refunded.
Manhattan Street made it three wins from as many starts when winning on Saturday. The colt led and drew out by six and a half lengths from Cortado, with two lengths to Impulsive Habit third.
Jonathan Riddell has ridden Manhattan Streets in his last two wins, while Kelly McCulloch was aboard for the debut victory. All the wins have been on heavy tracks.
‘‘He’s quite a smart horse,’’ Riddell said.
‘‘I’m hoping he’s not just a wettracker.’’
Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta is considering spring racing in Sydney and Melbourne for Manhattan Street. The Wanganui Guineas on September 3 is also a possible target for the son of Man- hattan Estelle.
‘‘He’s a well-bred colt on the way up, just keeps getting better and better,’’ Latta said.
‘‘We’ll see how he pulls up and make a decision next week on where we head with him.’’
Manhattan Street’s first two wins were at Otaki (June 24) and Awapuni (July 9). Rain and Charming
New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock won with his lone runner at Otaki but was disappointed he didn’t get told of a change to race conditions.
His runner, Gypsy Fair, had a nose to spare from Sir Kingwood after the pair fought out a home straight battle in a $30,000 open 1200.
The race was originally RACE IMAGES advertised with no apprentice claims. Sharrock said it changed to allow claims on Tuesday morning before nominations closed and he didn’t get told.
‘‘I was in the dark until this morning when I saw claims in the race,’’ said Sharrock, who is on the Gold Coast visiting his son.
‘‘Knowing there were claims would have given us another option.’’
Senior jockey Darryl Bradley rode Gypsy Fair, who is now likely to contest a $30,000 open 1300m on her home track on August 20.
Meanwhile, Christchurch’s Alfred Chan is transferring his apprenticeship from Riccarton trainer Mike McCann to Sharrock after the National meeting at Riccarton on August 6, 10 and 13.
Chan has ridden the winners of 11 races in 15 months of working for McCann.
‘‘He’s a good kid and will do well [in New Plymouth],’’ McCann said.
Chan is one of three Hong Kong riders to have worked for McCann in recent years, others being Jack Wong and Dicky Lui.
Hong Kong apprentices spend two or three years in New Zealand to gain more experience.
McCann’s son, Shane, a former jockey, is a tutor at an apprentice jockeys’ school in China.
‘‘It’s run by the Hong Kong Jockey Club and an hour and a half from the [Hong Kong] border,’’ Mike McCann said of the school.
Winter Cup hopeful Maybe Miami won by five lengths in an open 1400m at Ashburton on Saturday.
Jockey Chris Johnson had Maybe Miami nicely placed behind the leader before bringing the Iffraaj gelding out early in the run home to make his winning run.
Maybe Miami is one of 17 nominees for the Group III $100,000 Winter Cup at Riccarton next Saturday. Riverton trainer Kelvin Tyler has nominated last year’s winner, Timy Tyler (six wins).