Major sprint features are looming large on Mystic Park’s horizon after the classy local kicked off his five-year-old season with victory at Riccarton Park.
Leading jockey Lisa Allpress will be on the sidelines for an indefinite period after suffering a broken vertebra following a fall at Riccarton on Wednesday.
West Coast laid down the gauntlet to fellow superstar The Cossack for supremacy in next weekend’s Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) in emphatic fashion.
An online purchase of $4700 has turned into more than $63,000 in stakes with synthetic specialist Doubtful Sound, who played another starring role at Riccarton.
Trainer Danny Crozier has lofty ambitions with Imptee next season following his debut win on Saturday, however, overseas interest may curtail those plans.
Michael Pitman is hoping Zoulander has done enough to qualify for a lucrative polytrack target during Riccarton’s Grand National Festival of Racing in August.
Lance Robinson won’t have to trek far this week, with the Riccarton trainer set to line-up five runners at his home track’s synthetic double-header meetings.
While missing a chance for valuable black-type three weeks prior, promising filly Dangerous Liaisons was able to finish her South Island mission at Riccarton.
Michael and Matthew Pitman’s outstanding carnival continued on Saturday at Riccarton Park, with Zoulander pulling off a tough victory in the Open Sprint.