RACING ROUNDUP

WILLIAMS AGAIN

An extraordinary spring ended with more success for Lloyd Williams when Tanby added the race named after one of the owner’s all-time favourite horses at Sandown yesterday. Tanby ($7.50) proved to be the strongest stayer in the Group Two Zipping Classic (2400), claiming a three-quarter length win that gave the Williams family its fifth win in the race in the past six years and their sixth in the past 10. ‘‘If there’s a race other than the Melbourne Cup that we wanted to win it’s this one,’’ said part-owner Nick Williams. ‘‘Zipping was Dad’s favourite horse, it’s a special win.’’ Zipping won the race named in his honour four times in succession from 2007 and was at Sandown to lead the field out on Saturday.

FINAL RACE ABANDONED

CJC officials abandoned the final race at Riccarton yesterday when a thunderstorm struck the course, sending the large crowd fleeing for cover . Horses and riders had just started arriving at the gates for the Speights Premier when thunder and lightning broke out. And when lightning struck the gates, twice opening them, and a further flash hit, the stipendiary stewards recalled all riders to the birdcage. Chief stipe Ross Neal said the club elected to wait a few minutes to see if the storm would stop but with torrential rain and thunder still sounding 15 minutes later, the decision was made to call the race off. ‘‘There was significant risk with lightning – the gates are solid steel – and with horses and riders in there it was not worth the risk,’’ Neal said.

ZENNISTA ON THE LINE

It couldn’t have gone more wrong for wfa star Veyron in the Tauranga Stakes at Tauranga yesterday. He slipped leaving the gates losing four lengths, got the lead 100 metres out only to be knocked off on the line by Zennista, who relished the loose footing. Zennista’s win – which stretched her earnings past $250,000 – would have come as a moralebooster for Lisa Latta, who had a mediocre cup week at Riccarton. Mufhasa, the winner of $3.3 million, got into a speed duel with John Gray and was under pressure at the home turn, eventually wilting to fourth.

TATRA’S BEST RUN

In a classic finish which vindicated the form from the Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington, Tatra edged out Lunar Rise and the fast-finishing Proverb in the Sandown Guineas at Sandown yesterday. The horse with the best run in the race ended up prevailing, with Tatra close to the lead and saving ground during the run, while Lunar Rise was parked wide and Proverb was further back. Tatra hit the front 250 metres out and had just enough left in the tank to hold off his challengers.

DELL RINGS UP 50

Apprentice Chris Dell made it two out of two with unbeaten Airfield Road at Tauranga yesterday and bought up his 50th career win.