Contessa Vanessa in Classic victory
Contessa Vanessa has had her share of bad racing luck, but in yesterday’s $100,000 Eight Carat Classic at Ellerslie luck went her way, but it nearly didn’t again.
The home straight was rocky and Contessa Vanessa didn’t miss it, but apprentice Ryan Elliot managed to get her into the clear and sprint along the inside, which seemed the fast lane throughout the day.
Kapoor picked up her fifth second placing from her last six starts, fighting right to the line and showed she will be very difficult to beat in the 2000m Royal Stakes on January 1. Gris Dame was a close third.
The favourite Spring Heat was more than a little unlucky, but she attributed to her own downfall, according to rider Jake Bayliss. The filly attempted a gap at the 220m which appeared there then it narrowed.
“The gap was there,” said Bayliss, “but when she got into it she changed stride and lost momentum. It was a good run and I think she needs very firm footing. They have been moving the top today.”
One of the longest nondeadheat race finish decisions in memory was the final chapter of the $60,000 Hallmark Stud Handicap.
What seemed like 10 minutes, and was probably six or seven, elapsed before Saville Row was announced the narrow winner over Passing Shot.
Visually live Saville Row appeared to have scored then in the slow motion replay Passing Shot looked to have got his head at the right time on the line.
On a very hot afternoon in a very hot Ellerslie birdcage Melbourne trainer Mike Moroney had an intolerable wait to hear his trip from Australia had not been in vain. The stable and owner Kevin Hickman have always held Saville Row in high regard.
The 4-year-old failed to show his best in two Australian starts in September and he was brought home.
“He’s been doing well here in New Zealand lately and Pam Gerrard has been doing a marvellous job with him,” said Moroney.
Oh, and apparently it’s not the longest result to be posted, so says Passing Shot’s trainer Stephen McKee. “This horse finished second to Vespa in the Wellington Guineas three years ago and it took eight minutes.
“He was beaten a nose in that as well.”
Balcairn trainers John and Karen Parsons may be tempted to test star mare Starvoia against the best after her Hazlett Stakes (1200m) win.
The Starcraft mare overcame the outside gate to claim Boxing Day’s Wingatui feature in a nail-biting finish.
Man-of-the-moment Chris Johnson had ridden North Island-bound winners Sensei and Patrick Erin to success earlier on the card in stirring finishes and added another on Starvoia.