A return to stakes racing awaits Benefactor after she returned to winning form in impressive fashion when taking out the Canton Fair Tour Handicap (1600m) at Otaki on Thursday.
Dropping back from stakes company when eighth in the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) at New Plymouth a fortnight ago, trainer Lisa Latta was confident of an improved showing, and her mare delivered in spades.
Jockey Kelly Myers eased the rising seven-year-old mare back to settle toward the rear of the field, and the pair hugged the rail for the entirety of the race, which proved fruitful in the business end of the race where she dashed along the inside of her rivals to score a 4-1/4 length victory.
“She was always travelling really well and I was quite confident that if she got clear air, which we were always going to get, she is going to run away with it, and she did,” Myers said.
“It’s all fresh ground (on the rail), it’s the best part of the track, I had a walk on it earlier, so I was more than happy (to stay on it).”
Latta was pleased with the win and she is now setting her sights toward stakes targets in the new season with her mare.
“This was a big drop in class for her in what she has been racing against in her last two or three starts,” Latta said. “It was a beautiful ride by Kelly and stepping her back up to the mile really suited her.
“If things go her way I think she is capable of winning a Listed race, but she just keeps striking these really sticky tracks, which she doesn’t like. If she gets the right track, she is a good galloper.”
Later on the card, the stable nearly caused an upset when Midnight Dart came within a head of winning the Listed Phils Electrical & Gipsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m).
The two-year-old son of Derryn was a last-minute entry after the meeting was postponed on Saturday, and his owners, which include Latta’s son, Josh Herd, were rewarded with a black-type result.
“It was a bit of an afterthought to come here,” Latta said. “He galloped very well on Saturday morning and we thought this was a nice option to kick him back off on.”
Meanwhile, New Plymouth gelding Skattebo continued his rich vein of form when winning the Support Training At The Levin Track Three-Year-Old (1600m).
It was his fourth win from his last five starts and trainer Janelle Millar said he will now go out for a well-earned break.
“He missed the kick a little bit and he took a while to get going, but once he got going he was quite happy, even though he was dipping and diving,” Millar said. “He is just tough, he likes a dogfight.
“He has done us proud so he will go out for a three-month spell and we will set him up for something nice when he is four.”