Locals land big upset in Tarzino Trophy

Hastings trainer John Bary has saddled plenty of big-race winners on home soil, but none with the shock factor of Callsign Mav’s $82 boilover in Saturday’s Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m).

Bary had previously won the season-opening Group I feature in 2013 with Survived, who also won the Group III Hawke’s Bay Gold Cup (2200m), while quality mare Miss Wilson captured the Goup III Spring Sprint (1400m) in 2017.

Most notably, the glittering career of former stable star Jimmy Choux included home-track victories in the Group II Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m), Group I Windsor Park Plate (1600m) and Group I Spring Classic (2040m), along with a second placing behind Mufhasa in the 2011 edition of Saturday’s race.

Jockey Jonathan Riddell was a key part of that Jimmy Choux story, riding the $3.6 million earner in all but two of his 26 starts, and on Saturday he teamed up with Bary again for another memorable triumph.

‘‘It was just like the old days again, with Riddell and Jimmy,’’ said Bary, who is recuperating at home after undergoing back surgery earlier in the month.

‘‘Jonathan moved up to Cambridge four or five years ago now and has been doing a lot of riding up there since then, so the stars hadn’t aligned in recent times in terms of him riding for us.

‘‘But it came together on Saturday. It’s a shame I’m stuck at home and couldn’t be there today, but this has given me a big boost in my recovery.’’

Riddell played his part to perfection, urging Callsign Mav forward from his midfield draw and taking up a prominent position in the slipstream of Deerfield and The Mitigator.

Riddell drove Callsign Mav between that pair at the top of the straight, and the rank outsider dashed to the lead with 300 metres to run. Favourite Avantage gave chase down the outside, with Supera flashing home in the closing stages but Callsign Mav held them out. – NZ Racing Desk