Rogers’ Touch of Silver impresses on the wet

event, and challenged.

With 500 metres to run he extended his break on the field and won running away by an incredible 14 and a half lengths.

With a win like that on a wet track, Touch of Silver could be in for a very exciting winter on rain affected tracks.

Rogers’ second runner was also by Guillotine and another family horse Irish Mist who finished second in a rating 75 1400 metre event behind local runner Donna Anne Billy.

Irish Mist was ridden by Andrew Calder who returned to the riding ranks at the Pukekohe meeting earlier this month, and kicked home his first New Zealand winner at Te Awamutu on Wednesday.

In a pick-up ride on the day, due to Michael McNab being ill, Calder combined with Verbalizer to win a was never maiden 1580 metre event.

It was a short priced favourite, following a show of form in its previous four starts and won accordingly by two and three-quarter lengths.

Calder and his wife Natasha (formerly Collett) have been based in Macau for the past five years where he has ridden with a lot of success.

He has ridden nearly 800 winners throughout his career over 40 at black type level, including five a group one level.

Calder and his family, the couple have twin boys Tye and Jax, have now returned to settle in Pukekohe where he is a welcome addition to the local riding ranks, given his sister-in-law Alysha has now relocated to Singapore to ride for six months.

On that subject Collett is scheduled to commence riding in Singapore this weekend.