Salamanca turns the tables at Awapuni

Awapuni-trained pair Salamanca and Miss Appleton had the finish of the Farm Source Handicap to themselves on their home track on Thursday with the former prevailing by a narrow margin.

It was in contrast to their clash 12 days previous, when Miss Appleton led all the way for a length and three quarter win.

Even though Miss Appleton again had the best of the weights, the Salamanca camp had devised a plan which was responsible for turning the tables.

Trainer Mike Breslin and rider Danielle Hirini had the better of the draw and this time were not going to hand up to Miss Appleton.

And so it proved with Salamanca dictating the pace and staving off Miss Appleton by half a head.

Breslin and Hirini combined one race later with Prosecco for local owner Richard Algar.

The Stravinski mare was tailed off early but saved ground on the inside and eventually won impressively.

Copper Belt’s Kevin Gray has been able to get his seven year old Itsallbelt to put together four wins on the trot and the latest in a R75 staying test.

Kevin and wife Kathleen bred Itsallbelt and while the horse is racing so well, there seems no reason not to keep going.

Itsallbelt was ridden by Gray’s apprentice Holly Andrews, who added another win with the roughie Mr Darcee’s Gold in the final event.

After racing at Waverley on Sunday, Andrews will be off the scene with operations to remove rods and screws from her legs, but hopes to be back by Boxing Day.

The brothers Schumacher from Stratford are not loathe to race Zorrali, and the six year old won his sixth race in the open 1600m Tru Test Handicap, his first win at the distance.