Luck turns for classy sprinter Irish Moon
Matamata trainer Ken Kelso cuts a frustrated figure when discussing the future prospects of his class sprinter Irish Moon.
Kelso and wife Bev produced the O’Reilly gelding to score a tenacious victory in open company at Pukekohe yesterday just a week after he travelled to Trentham in the hope of gaining a start in the Telegraph. The second emergency didn’t gain the two scratchings he needed to make the field for the elite event which has Kelso bemoaning the fate of his charge who is in ‘‘no man’s land’’ when it comes to gaining a start in events run under set weights and penalties conditions.
‘‘I just don’t know what to do with this guy as he is in an impossible spot,’’ he said.
‘‘He is super consistent and for that he is rated at the top of most handicaps. However with the trend to running so many of our better races under set weights and penalties he finds it hard to get a start. ‘‘Because he doesn’t have any black type form he is balloted out like he was at Trentham last week. It’s hard to explain to his owners how he has to lug 60kgs due to his rating one week and then can’t get a start the next.
‘‘He will probably cop another two or more rating points for this win. We’d like to go to the Darley Plate at Ellerslie but that’s set weights as well so he probably won’t get in there either unless they don’t get a full field.’’
RICCARTON
Local runner Maybe Miami mastered the gusty Riccarton wind with aplomb on Saturday as he snatched a valuable black-type victory on his home track in the Listed Speight’s Timaru Stakes (1400m).
The Kevin and Pam Hughes trained gelding was back on his home patch after a gallant performance for fourth in the Gr. 2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes at Awapuni last month and certainly appreciated the familiar surroundings despite the tricky wind that had gusted strongly throughout the meeting.
Settled beautifully just off the early pace set by stablemate Super Trouper, Maybe Miami made his challenge three wide as the field turned for the long Riccarton run home. Race favourite Batman joined issue at the 300 metre mark with the pair settling down to a torrid battle. On this occasion Batman had to settle for the role of sidekick as he couldn’t peg back the determined Maybe Miami who held him out by three-quarters of a length at the finish.
A victory at home base was a sweet result for co-trainer Kevin Hughes who revealed a battle with the easterly wind wasn’t the only issue his charge faced during the contest.
“I’ve never seen the wind so bad and so strong during a meeting here,” he admitted.
“They were really battling coming up the straight and to top things off Sam (Samantha Collett) dropped her whip as well.
“Our fella was pretty tough in the end and Sam was very impressed by the effort.”
INVERCARGILL
A couple of below par performances at the beginning of Classie Brigade’s campaign now seem a distant memory.
The Nigel McGrath-trained pacer beat off a spirited fightback from local hope Captain Dolmio to win the Invercargill Trotting Cup yesterday.
A star three-year-old who was often Lazarus’ closest rival, Classie Brigade has now won four races on the trot.
It was his third Cup victory in a row following wins at Omakau and Ashburton with all three coming in the hands of Blair Orange.
The four-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight beat home the Southland owned and bred Captain Dolmio by half a length.
Captain Dolmio lead for most of the 3200m journey, but looked to be resigned to second when Classie Brigade went past him in the straight.
But the gritty Captain Dolmio, now trained by Robert Dunn in Canterbury, refused to give in and came back at Classie Brigade in the final stages.
Classie Brigade paced the 3200m in an impressive 3:53.5 with a mile rate of 1:57.4.
McGrath started three runners in the race with Maverick finishing third and Ears Burning sixth.
Classie Brigade’s victory was Orange’s sixth success in the race after Johnny Fox (2015), Saveapatrol (2014), Highview Tommy (2011), Harnetts Creek (2004) and The Tough Nut (2000).