A year after his triumph in the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2100m), classy four-year-old Arby will chase another feature on Manawatu’s feature day, the Gr.2 City Of Palmerston North Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m).
Darryn and Briar Weatherley have been well-represented in stakes events this season and that trend will continue at Te Rapa on Saturday with a trio of feature race contenders.
Black-type winning stayer Ess Vee Are will return to New Zealand tracks on Saturday at Pukekohe, with trainers Darryn and Briar Weatherley hoping to commence a path towards key Cup races this summer.
A year on from Pier’s heroics in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), his older half-sister Maria Farina has picked up a feature win of her own during the New Zealand Cup Carnival at Riccarton.
Lightly raced stayer Arby continued a purple patch of form for the father and daughter training combination of Darryn and Briar Weatherley when he stormed to victory in the Gr.3 Higgins Concrete Manawatu Classic (2000m).
A weaving run on the home turn by enigmatic mare Maria Farina to claim the Listed Jennian Homes Wellington Lightning Handicap (1200m), provided the Weatherley family with a stunning stakes double on a day of high drama for their small team.
