Weather, overcast; track, dead (4). rail, true position.
Race 1: The Wingatui Function Centre, $10,000, 2yo, 820m
Kerany overcame a tardy beginning to win easily. Kerany is trained at Wingatui by Terry Kennedy who races her with Dave Drinnan, of Milton. The same combination had Dalwhinnie, winner of five races. Dalwhinnie had her racing career curtailed by a breathing problem and she was sold to Australia as a broodmare.
Kerany is held on lease from breeders Colyton Holdings Limited (Kelvin McGrail and Pania Hudson, of Feilding). She is a filly by Falkirk and the first foal of Sudders, who won a $20,000 maiden race at Wingatui from the Kennedy stable in 2009. Sudders (by Sudurka) ran third at Ellerslie as a 2yr-old before she joined Kennedy. Her racing was restricted to 16 starts by lameness before she won a maiden race at four.
Kerany (Shankar Muniandy) recovered from her slow start to lead after 200m and she won by two lengths from Miroslava, who chased her for most of the way.There was a gap of five lengths to Mustard, who shaded Our Golden Girl. The latter pair were checked when Kerany crossed to the lead. Shankar Muniandy, the rider of Kerany, was subsequently suspended for nine riding days until December 28.
Horse to follow: Kerany.
Race 2: K B Contractors, $11,000. rating 75, 2200m
Oligarch fairly outstayed his five rivals to give Tuahiwi (North Canterbury) trainer Mark Harris a win on his first visit to Wingatui for four years. Oligarch, a 5yr-old by O’Reilly- Russian Embassy, is raced by Harris with his mother-in-law, Frances Ryman and Insight New Zealand 2007 Ltd. Harris has six thoroughbreds in his team and 35 polo horses on his books in Australia and New Zealand. Oligarch (Kylie Williams) brought up the rear of the six-horse field until the 500m when improved wide and maintained a powerful finish to win by half a neck. Shantav fought well for second after trailing the pacemaker Lin and reaching the front near the 250m. There was two and a quarter lengths to Precious Percy, who raced fourth on the inner. Show MacCool was three lengths back fourth. The favourite Lin dropped out to last.
Horse to follow: Oligarch.
Race 3: Southern Wide Real Estate maiden, $10,000, 2200m
Metasequoia won in dashing style in the hands of Rahul Beeharry, who is on loan to the stable of John and Karen Parsons stable from Bruce Tapper. Metasequoia, a 4yr-old mare by Redwood – Rhythm’s Choice, is raced by Karen Parsons and Sheryl McGlade. Metasequoia attended the early leader Beaver Las Vegas when the pace was slack. She then dropped back to third last and unwound strongly in the run home to win by two and a half lengths. The favourite Riding High, three wide early, then handy, reached the front in the run home and held second by half a neck from The Style, who ran on boldly from second last at the 400m. Painted Angel led in the others with Dowry Duty dropping to sixth after infusing speed into the race at the 1400m when she dashed to the front.
Horse to follow: The Style.
Race 4: Dunedin Print, $10,000, rating 60, 1200m
Promising got up in the last few strides for rider Kevin Kalychurun, trainer Kelvin Tyler and owner Terry Lines. Promising led out then trailed the leader Alakazam and prevailed by half a head. Alakazan fought well for second. The favourite Zabay was an unlucky third. She was held up after racing sixth on the inner and surged home late. Her riding Corey Campbell was subsequently suspended until December 22 for shifting out in the straight, causing a check to Velvet Rose. There was a long neck to Richie Rox, who ran on late after a slow start. He was last at the 400m. Flavouring did best of the others after racing outside the leader.
Horse to follow: Zabay.
Race 5: MK Fitness, $11,000, rating 75, 1500m
Londonderry Air resumed on a winning note from a four month break. The Raise The Flag – Rubiette gelding, a half brother to High Forty, has the first half of a hurdling ticket but he could continue to make his mark on the flat for the Brian and Shane Anderton stable. He has now won four from 10 starts for the Andertons. Corey Campbell settled Londonderry Air sixth on the inner and never left the inside rail. Londonderry Air ran on boldly to win by three quarters of a length from his stablemate Taieri Gem who was seen in the unaccustomed role of pacemaker. There was a length and a quarter to Jumeriah, who ran on from fifth. There was half a length to Satin Guru, who came from last with half a neck to Bakela, who trailed the leader. The Man was checked near the 250m when Bakela shifted out and rider Shankar Muniandy was given an additional suspension until January 4.
Horse to follow: Londonderry Air.
Race 6: Carefree Stables Maiden, $10,000, 1100m
Frazzle gave Jason Laking his first win back as a professional jockey. Frazzle is trained at Riccarton by Andrew Carston for the Go Racing Cappucino syndicate. She is a 5yr-old mare by Iffraaj from La Vazza. Frazzle led out, then chased Roc Leone who went to the front at the 850m. Frazzle was back in front near the 200m and she held out the fast finishing Smile by half a neck. Smile settled fourth on the inner and took time to wind up in the straight. There was three quarters of a length to Our Frankie, who ran on from mid-field Faux Pas made a late bid from mid-field for a close fourth, ahead of Dale (handy) and the favourite Cabernet, who settled third last. Roc Leone wilted to seventh but he was not disgraced in his first race for more than two years.
Horse to follow: Smile.
Race 7: Contract Wild Animal Control Ltd, $10,000, 1400m
Diorissimo flew home from last to win in a blanket finish. Diorissimo, a maiden winner, at Wingatui, is owned and trained at Ashburton by Sarah and Matthew Smith. Diorissimo (Corey Campbell) was last in an 11-horse field at the 400m. She got up to win by a neck from Galway Garry, who did well after covering extra ground beyond mid-field. Majic El, who raced outside the pacemaker Bushido and led in the run home was a nose back third with a nose to Justice Well (always handy), a head to Lay Off(last mostly) and Greta Valley, who dead-heated. The favourite Queen Serene led early then trailed but she was unable to get clear in the run home and finished last.
Race 8: NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden, $12,000, fillies and mares, 1400m
Raven Darkholme was a decisive winner. She is a 3yr-old filly by Iffraaj out of the capable race mare Mystique and thus a half sister to Replique, winner of the 2016 Southland Guineas. Replique has not reproduced winning form in Australia. Raven Darkholme is owned and trained at Rangiora by Nick Wigley, of the Inglewood Stud. Raven Darkholme (Samantha Wynne) covered extra ground from a wide draw and came from well back to win by two lengths from Crispin, who trailed close to the pace. Mossy Creek,who was buried back on the inner until the straight entrance, did well for third, a length back. She shaded the pacemaker Odalisque, with a length and three quarters to Sweet Chastity, who was always in the firing line.
Horse to follow: Mossy Creek.
Race 9: Merry Christmas Dunedin Maiden, $10,000, 1600m
Los Cabos justified her favouritism and capped a string of minor placings with her win. She is a 5yr-old mare by Mastercraftsman from Paris Hilton trained by Shane Kennedy and Anna Furlong for Kevin Hickman. Los Cabos (Jason Laking) settled sixth on the outer and finished generously to win by a neck from Aboli, who raced handy and led in the straight. Leuluai, who was trapped three wide handy and led at the 500m, fought on for third,a length and a half back, Dad’s Brother ran on from well back for fourth, ahead of Mac Murdoch, who faded. Beam Me Up Scotty was closest at the finish in sixth place with All Be Civics wilted to seventh.
Horse to follow: Leuluai.