Moonlight shines at Te Rapa
RAIN dampened the dress rehearsal for New Zealand’s first Group I of the season.
Saturday’s Group II Foxbridge Plate (1200m) was run on a downgraded heavy track as the heavens opened for the race being used as an important lead-in to the Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings on September 2.
Connections of Saturday’s entire field have designs on the Group I but many will be hoping for better conditions than they struck for Saturday’s $100,000 feature won by noted wet track performer Underthemoonlight.
Runner-up Close Up doesn’t mind a wet track but Allan Sharrock trainer of third-placed Kawi is one definitely hoping for better conditions come Hastings.
Kawi is vying for Tarzino favouritism with Volpe Veloce who bypassed Saturday’s race.
Nevertheless all honours were with Saturday’s winner ridden by Cameron Lammas under instructions from trainer and part-owner Karyn McQuade and her husband and co-owner Hamish.
After the mare they also bred drew a wide gate they devised a plan to drop to the rear and take their chances from there.
Perfectly executed by a patient Lammas, the El Hermano mare roared home and held a gallant Close Up comfortably at the post with Kawi rattling into third while pacemaker Southern Icon held fourth from Authentic Paddy.
The winner looked an absolute picture in the pre-race parade and ran right up to her appearance and brilliant track work at Matamata during the week.
She was the horse punters wanted and her price tightened from the time betting opened right until the jump.
Hamish McQuade recalled the lengths the couple went to buy Underthemoonlight’s dam Midnight Dip after having earlier success with the family.
Money was tight but they were determined to buy her.
‘‘I said to Karyn we’ve got to get the family back,’’ McQuade recalled.
The move could take another welcome twist if Underthemoonlight can add Group I form.
‘‘I think today she proved she’s up to Group I class,’’ he said. ‘‘She doesn’t need wet ground, it won’t worry her so long as she can get her toe into the ground.’’
Lammas agreed and believes she is right up to Group I quality.
‘‘She deserves her chance now,’’ he said. ‘‘She’s a tough mare and always gives 110 per cent.
Sharrock was ‘‘absolutely thrilled’’ with the run of Kawi as he looks to complete a hat-trick in the Hastings Group I nowadays known as the Tarzino.
’’I couldn’t be happier,’’ he said. ‘‘He’s right where he needs to be. He wasn’t happy in the ground today and will be a different horse on better ground.’’
Jockey Jason Waddell was all smiles and the Tarzino can’t come quick enough for him.
Despite his run Kawi ($3.50) is behind Volpe Veloce ($3) in the race with Underthemoonlight ($10) after her win.
Vinnie Colgan replaced Opie Bosson on fifth placed Authentic Paddy and received a fine for excessive use of the whip while Bosson was fined $500 for failing to make correct weight.
Bosson had one ride booked on return from holiday.
A no panic Leith Innes ride was the key to an impressive return to racing by Felton Road at Te Rapa on Saturday.
The Tony Pike-trained 3-year-old made a good fist of his juvenile season with two wins and a Karaka Million third and has returned ready to tackle the best.
In his final run as a 2-yearold he had an interrupted run in the Group I Sistema Stakes at Ellerslie when hampered and forced wide.
That was his sole unplaced effort and a reason Pike was happy enough when the son of Pins was last and out of trouble early in Saturday’s 1100m 3-year-old contest.
But any complacency turned to slight panic as the field turned for home.
Back on the inside with Innes staring a the rear-ends of his opposition, Pike was resigned to a hard luck story from his jockey.
‘‘I thought he was in a power of trouble,’’ Pike said. ‘‘I thought it was going to be ugly there for a while.’’
Innes was the essence of cool.
‘‘The horse was going great,’’ Innes said. ‘‘He’s a racehorse. But I was a bit surprised he was able to sprint so quick off a track like that.’’
When the gap came ‘‘the racehorse’’ burst through and dominated the final stages of the race run in 1:07.78 on a track bordering on heavy.
‘‘I have been really happy with the way he has been coming up,’’ Pike said.
Trips to Taupo and Te Rapa for gallops were instrumental in preparing Felton Road for Saturday’s race.
Pike will give the horse a month between runs with the Northland Breeders Stakes at Ruakaka his next mission ahead of Guineas assignments, the first at Hawke’s Bay.
Felton Road’s earnings surpassed $100,000 with the win and a big team of owners including Pike and former Black Caps fast bowler Simon Doull should be in for an exciting summer.
Waipipi Lad loves Te Rapa and was back winning at the course in Saturday’s Jorja’s 14th Birthday 1600.
Jorja [Scott] wasn’t the only one celebrating, Waipipi Lad’s connections were in the mood after the 8-year-old’s third win at the track.