Pareanui Bay wins Memorial Stakes

Progressive galloper Pareanui Bay claimed the honours at Te Rapa yesterday when he overcame a torrid trip in transit to capture the $110,000 Group II Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m).

The Tony Pike-trained son of Lonhro had created a huge impression with a gritty win in maiden company on debut at the venue earlier in the month but met a field of quality three-yearolds for his attempt at the feature event.

Although well fancied as the $5.20 second favourite behind Group II Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) winner Mana Nui ($2.90), his army of supporters had their hearts in their mouths as rider Michael McNab was forced to sit three-wide throughout after being posted out there from a wide barrier.

McNab didn’t panic and eased his mount into a challenging position on the home bend before joining eventual runner-up Meritable and powering home to win by a long neck with Dark Destroyer finishing off strongly from last on the corner to take third.

‘‘We knew he was very good but to step up to the quality he met today was very special,’’ Pike said.

‘‘They didn’t go overly quick, but he was stuck out wide for most of the trip, which didn’t help him much.

‘‘He still wants to float around at the business end and takes a little while to really knuckle down, so we know there is improvement in him.’’

Pike will now take a few days to think about the immediate future for the horse but expressed his disappointment that the chance to place a late entry into the Group I New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on November 6 wasn’t available after late entries closed on October 20. ■ Hot favourite Self Assured did not look quite as assured as he might have in winning the $50,000 Ashburton Flying Stakes yesterday, the penultimate lead-up to the New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington in two weeks.

The reigning cup champion led all the way but only held out challenger Classie Brigade, which had been in the trail, by a half head with Pembrook Playboy third.

Self Assured is a warm favourite to repeat last year’s 3200m Cup success but though winning his past two starts (one in the stewards room) has not looked quite in the dominant form of last year.

Self Assured paid $1.50 for the win and even money for the place. The last big race before the Cup is this Monday’s Kaikoura Cup, to be held at Addington, where it is likely Self Assured’s biggest rival, South Coast Arden, will step out.