Tommyra and Yardarm upset over fences in rider replacement drama
The Toby Autridge-trained Tommyra returned to his best form when taking out the $50,000 Hawke’s Bay Hurdle (3100m) at Hastings yesterday.
The 2020 Waikato Hurdle winner had been overlooked by many as punters gravitated towards topweight Tallyho Twinkletoe and the promising Bak Da Master.
Ridden aggressively by Shaun Phelan, who picked up the ride after Reece Cole was stood down following a fall in the first race, Tommyra ($7.90 win) attacked pacemaker Bak Da Master with 1200m to run before poking his head in front turning for home.
Bak Da Master fell at the second last fence leaving Tommyra clear in front, where he clung gamely to the lead to defeat the fast finishing No Change and Tallyho Twinkletoe.
Autridge was thrilled he could get Phelan as a pinch hitter on his charge after Cole aggravated an existing hip issue.
‘‘I didn’t think the day was going to go too well after we lost our jockey, but I was thrilled Shaun could take the ride,’’ he said.
‘‘He is one of the best jocks around and he took the incentive when the leader was getting it easy out in front.
‘‘The better track today helped us out as he doesn’t really handle the deep stuff.
Tommyra has now won nine races, with five of those hurdles, and over $197,000.
■ The $50,000 Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m) was taken out by the Kevin Myers-trained Yardarm, who was also ridden by a replacement jockey in James Seivwright.
Seivwright picked up the ride after Sam O’Malley had to forego the mount due to suffering a heavy concussion and fractured vertebrae when Remarx fell heavily in the first hurdle race on the card.
Seivwright never put a foot wrong as he kept Yardarm in contact with the pacemakers Notabadrooster and Its A Wonder over throughout before asserting control around the home bend.
Yardarm ($18.90) flew the last fence and raced away to register just his second career victory and first over the bigger fences after taking out a maiden hurdle event at Te Aroha back in 2015.
The rising 12-year-old, who carries the colours of former champion galloper Mainbrace, was good enough to finish second in the 2017 Australian Grand National Steeplechase (4500m), but has been plagued by injury and only returned to racing back in May, after finishing sixth in the 2019 KS Browne Hurdle (3350m) at Ellerslie.