Rusof plays a blinder in Travis
TE Akau rider Shafiq Rusof celebrated his first New Zealand black type victory on Saturday with a polished display aboard the stable runner Our Abbadean.
The 31-year-old brought the five-year-old with a well-timed finish at Te Rapa to win the Travis Stakes from China Star and Nicoletta.
Rusof returned to Matamata this season after riding for Mark Walker for seven years in Singapore where he was twice crowned champion apprentice.
“It’s a big thrill and Te Akau have supported me from day one,” he said.
Our Abbadean is trained by Jamie Richards and Stephen Autridge and the former was lavish in his praise for Rusof.
“He’s a very under-rated rider. He came from Singapore and when you are competitive against the likes of Michael Rodd, Joao Moreira and Vlad Duric it speaks volumes,” he said.
“He’s a hard worker and he’s riding a lot of winners for us.”
Raced by breeders Wentwood Grange, Our Abbadean settled midfield on a good pace and finished resolutely to add the Travis to her Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m) title claimed three runs back.
In between times, the daughter of Lookin At Lucky ran second in the Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m).
“The key has been getting her up in trip, she’s a genuine stayer,” Richards said. “She’s rock-hard fit and is getting deep into her preparation now.
“We’ve been pleased with her right the way through and as Stephen said, once she finds form she holds it.
“We’ll talk to the owners now, but we would love to give her a break and then come back for Hastings in the spring. I think that race (the Livamol Classic over 2040m) on the last day would be right up her alley.” ● Bold chestnut Karisto made his own luck at Te Rapa yesterday to score an emphatic win at the expense of his fellow three-yearolds.
The son of Written Tycoon jumped to the front and he powered clear in the straight in the hands of Cameron Lammas to claim the Maara Grange Rehabilitation and Fencing 1600m by four and three-quarter lengths.
Turned out after finishing fourth in the Wellington Guineas (1600m) in December, Karisto was denied clear room in the straight when seventh on his return at Te Rapa a fortnight ago.
“He didn’t have any luck and it was a good effort today to step up to the mile,” said Bruce Perry, TRISH DUNELL racing manager for part-owner Lib Petagna.
“Gelding him and giving him a break has really made him.”
Perry went to $220,000 to secure Karisto out of Lyndhurst Farm’s Ready to Run Sale draft at Karaka in 2016.
“The China Horse Club had a share in him and he was passed in originally and I got him later and they wanted to stay in the horse so it’s working out well,” he said.
Future plans for the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsmantrained Karisto have yet to be decided.
“We’ll play it by ear and see how he comes through this race,” Perry said.
“He’s taken a while to strengthen up and hopefully he keeps improving.”
Obsessive did well off the back of a maiden win to finish runnerup ahead of Executive Power and Lincoln Raider and the favourite Not Usual Talent.
He ran on fairly after dropping to last from the outside gate. MURRAY Baker and Andrew Forsman are likely to be looking at suitable offshore targets for quality mare Love Affair.
The Cambridge trainers produced the Garry Chittick-bred and owned four-year-old for an impressive first-up victory at the expense of the Queensland-bound Volpe Veloce in the Aon Insurance Brokers Premier (1200m) at Te Rapa yesterday.
‘‘I’ll have to speak to Garry, he might be looking at Brisbane,’’ Baker said. ‘‘If not Brisbane, then she’ll be a good mare for Melbourne in the spring.’’
Runner-up in the Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) before a spell, the daughter of Savabeel has now won five times from eight appearances.
‘‘She’s a classy sort of mare and she trialled up well,’’ Baker said. ‘‘We didn’t really know how she would go today over 1200m but she was nice and fresh.’’
Love Affair settled one off the fence near the pace and when rider Matthew Cameron asked her to sprint 300m from home she quickly cut loose to put the issue beyond doubt.
‘‘She’s not a natural 1200m horse, but she jumped and got into a good position and kicked really well,’’ he said.
Volpe Veloce turned in a solid effort to open her campaign with the Graham Richardson and Gavin Parker-trained Group One winner booked to head to the Queensland winter carnival on May 4.
She will be based at the family property at Ipswich of her regular rider Jake Bayliss, who is shortly to head to Brisbane after a successful New Zealand stint.
‘‘I came here a battler and I’m leaving a multiple Group-winning jockey,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s been really rewarding. ● DANNY Walker savoured a bonus win with the promising youngster Star Performance at Te Rapa.
The Byerley Park trainer was encouraged to step the two-yearold out on a reasonable surface yesterday and the debutant showed his appreciation by winning the Cambridge Equine Hospital Premier (1200m) on debut.
‘‘It was the last roll of the dice really for a good track in the autumn and I’ll put him aside now,’’ he said.
Star Performance has been unbeaten in all three of his leadup trials and Walker is upbeat about the Per Incanto gelding’s future.
‘‘Everything I’ve done with this horse has been aimed toward his three-year-old season.’’
‘ He’s a hard worker and he’s riding a lot of winners for us.’ TRAINER MARK WALKER ON JOCKEY SHAFIQ RUSOF