The Good Fight punches clear in cup

Solid stayer The Good Fight scored easily in the $75,000 Rotorua Cup (2200m) at Arawa Park yesterday.

The 6-year-old son of High Chaparral was having just his second run after a summer break following a disappointing showing in the Wellington Cup (3200m) in January, but stripped a fit horse for Cambridge trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray.

Settled in a handy position by rider Sam Collett, The Good Fight ($8) looked to be full of running when looming into contention at the 600m mark. Collett let him have his head on the home turn and The Good Fight bounded clear to crush his rivals in the last 300m, winning by 33⁄4 lengths from Voler Pour Moi and Initiative, who both ran on resolutely from well back.

Ritchie had been confident of a ‘‘He had won quite easily on a heavy track earlier in his career, so we thought we’d put him away after the Wellington Cup and bring him back for a crack at a race like this.

‘‘I think he loved it out there today as he just kept coming over the last 800m and looked good doing it.’’ Ritchie was delighted with the ride by Collett, who has been in a purple patch of form.

‘‘Sam said to me before the race she was aware he hit flat spots in his races and that she was going to try and keep his momentum up when that happened,’’ Ritchie said. ■ Consistent sprinter Pop Star Princess secured her first blacktype success when she took out the Group 3 $70K Rotorua Stakes (1400m), courtesy of a daring ride by Jonathan Riddell.

The noted front-runner had disappointed just seven days ago at Te Rapa when fading badly after being annoyed throughout the 1200m journey when taking up her customary pacemaking role.

Riddell wouldn’t let that happen this time as he bounced the 6-yearold mare to a clear lead from the starting gates.

With his main rivals making swooping runs to race into contention at the 400m, Riddell hugged the rails on Pop Star Princess ($6), who kicked hard and had enough in reserve to hold out race favourite Supreme Heights and Katie Perrie to secure a gritty victory.

Co-trainer Fred Cornege, who prepares the Makfi mare with his wife Lindsay, was at home recovering from surgery.

‘‘When she is in the zone this mare is very tough to head,’’he said.