Weather, fine; track, good (3), rail, true position.
Race 1: Christmas At The Races December 15 Maiden, $10,000 1220m
Zayzay won in dashing style. Ridden by Kylie Williams, Zayzay was slow away and last of 11 until the 500m. She improved three wide to lead at the 150m and came clear by two and three quarter lengths. She is a 4yr-old mare by Fast ‘N’ Famous – Cielo trained by Murray Tapper for his wife, Christine, Ray Johnson, Ngaire Buchan, Neil Edge and Murray Angelo. The owners leased Zayzay out of the Stephen Marsh stable. Edward ran on from eighth for second, half a length clear of Cardrona, who disputed the early lead then trailed. There was a length to The Mist, who ran on late after being lost for early speed. Aunty Alice, who disputed the lead and went clear at the 800m, faded to fifth, ahead of Epee and Chelsea Blue. Macario dropped rider Parvesh Shaikh after 200m.
Horse to follow: Zayzay.
Race 2: Lindauer Maiden, $10,000, 1400m
Queen Jetsun continued a good run for the West Melton stable of Tony and Lyn Prendergast with her win. Queen Jetsun, a 4yr-old mare by Castledale – Gulfstream, is raced by Roy Munro, of Invercargill. She led out from a wide draw(11), then Kylie Williams steadied her outside Rockapan, who went to the front. Queen Jetsun gained the upper hand near the 200m and won by three quarters of a length from the fast finishing Free And Easy, who was third last early.There was half a length to Meru, who trailed close to the pace with a neck to favourite Leuluai, who was in that position throughout. Rockapan faded to fifth, ahead of El Famoso and Galisini, who was slow away.
Horse to follow: Free And Easy.
Race 3: Wingatui Catering At Cromwell, $30,000, rating 85, 1220m
Starvoia held too many guns for the opposition. Chris Johnson settled her second on the outer and headed the pacemker Celtic Cross at the 200m. The John and Karen Parsons-trained Starvoia won by a length and three quarters to maintain her unbeaten record in two starts in a fresh campaign. Celtic Cross fought on for second with a head to Mr Typhon, who ran on late from last in the six-horse field. He had little in his favour with the mixed pace of the race. El Bee Darci battled for fourth,
Horse to follow: Starvoia.
Race 4: Central Lakes Equestrian Centre, $22,500, rating 65, 1220m
Judge Graeme Rowland described the finish as one of the closest he had experienced for a long time when just under two lengths separated the first eight horses. Flytime prevailed by a nose from Strowan with a length to Prince Ransom and noses to Zabay and Pippi Rea then heads to He’s My Brother, Alottatow and Waimate Bill. Flytime is co-owned by Wayne Huddlestone, of Alexandra, race photographer for the meeting. The gelding is trained by Russell and Ashley McKay at Ashburton. Flytime (Krishna Mudhoo) was last away in the 14-horse field, then recovered to chase the leader Ellerstina and led near the 200m. Strowan and Prince Ransom both raced handy to the pace and Zabay, ran on solidly from mid-field.
Horse to follow: Zabay.
Race 5: The Brooklyn Barber Maiden, $10,000, 2030m
Sebring Dragon turned the race into a procession after a daring ride by Tanya Jonker. She improved Sebring Dragon from ninth to lead at the 1100m, then dashed 10 lengths clear on the home turn. Sebring Dragon won by four and a half lengths. Metasequoia, who trailed handy, ran on for second, five and a quarter lengths clear of Portumna Lass, who made ground from back in the field.Vino Tinto was in a gap of three and a quarter lengths fourth, shading Little Bossing, who had raced handy.
Sebring Dragon is a 5yr-old gelding by Sebring – Love Connection, owned and trained by Terrill Charles and Peter Corbett.
Horse to follow: Sebring Dragon.
Race 6: KB Contractors, $25,000, rating 75, 1400m
Raise You Ten, who won the Gore Guineas in January, returned to winning form. Ridden by Corey Campbell, Raise You Ten, disputed the pace outside Residential after starting from the 11 barrier. Raise You Ten stayed on well to score by half a neck from Wild Jack, who trailed the leader. There was a head to Entree, who ran on well along the inner from mid-field. Nowhere Man made a bold late run from the rear of the field fourth.
Horse to follow: Nowhere Man.
Race 7: Centrepoint Liquor Supplies, $35,000, open, 1400m
Gallant Boy completed a double for apprentice Corey Campbell and the stable of Brian and Shane Anderton with a narrow win. Gallant Boy came from seventh at the 500m and outfinished the pacemaker Johnny Jones by half a head. There was a length and a quarter to Dynamic, ho recovered quickly from a slow start to trail the leader. Secret Power was a gap of two and quarter lengths fourth after attending the leader.
Horse to follow: Gallant Boy.
Race 8: Dunstan Horse Feeds, $35,000, open, 2030m
Patrick Erin enhanced his reputation with an impressive win. He is on target for the Wellington Cup (3200m) in January. Chris Johnson was impressed after riding Patrick Erin for the first time. “He sprinted quick when the gaps came in the straight,” said Johnson, who is keen to continue his association with Patrick Erin. Co-trainer Brian Anderton said Patrick Erin would now go to Invercargill for a 2200m race on December 16.
Patrick Erin settled fifth and three back on the inner and came to the fore inside the final 200m to win by a length and a half. Come Fly With Me who trailed the leader Show Maccool, fought on for second with a head to Tommy Tucker, who staged a powerful late run from eleventh at the 600m. Princess Brook battled for fourth after racing in the open close to the pace. Motorbike Mike was a head back fifth, ahead of Who Dares Wins and Sureasyouwereborn. Tommy Tucker gave trainer Brian and Shane Anderton their third win for the day. Patrick Erin and his brother Gallant Boy (winner of the open 1400m) are both raced by breeder Pat Smith, of Christchurch and trained by the Andertons.
Horse to follow: Patrick Erin.
Race 9: Speight’s, $22,500, rating 65, 2030m
Victoryshallbemine gave trainers Peter Corbett and Terrill Charles and apprentice Tanya Jonker their second win for the day. Victoryshallbemine settled fifth and ran on stoutly to score by a head from the favourite Slammer, who trailed close up on the outer. Slammer held second by three quarters of a length from Opihi Jade who ran on from sixth. The favourite Ruby Row fought on for fourth after racing handy with Keep The Lot making ground from the rear for fifth. The pacemaker Verna Audrey was next to finish, ahead of Higher Authority.
Horse to follow: Victoryshallbemine.
Race 10: See You Next Year Cromwell, $22,500, rating 65, 1400m
Princess Athena overcame a wide draw (11) and ran on strongly wide out to win. The Danny Crozier-trained mare, ridden by Krishna Mudhoo, came from fifth in the running and scored by half a length from Zakynthos who missed the start but recovered quickly to third. Napoleon Dynamite was half a length back third after making the pace. Lay Off ran on from well back for fourth, ahead of Jacob Gambino(the early leader) and Lizzie Borden, who was closest at the finish.
Horse to follow: Princess Athena.