Lightly raced filly Miss Layla produced a dogged performance to upstage the pre-post favourites when she claimed the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton at just her third lifetime start.
Matamata trainer Graham Richardson has an eye on New Zealand’s longest juvenile Group One race as he prepares To Catch A Thief to resume racing at his home track this weekend.
Trainer Mark Walker is looking forward to Saturday’s bumper meeting at Te Rapa where he has strong chances in both Group One races – the BCD Group Sprint (1400m) and the Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m).
Victorian-based jockey Daniel Stackhouse had a whale of a time on his last visit home and the expatriate Kiwi horseman was quick to accept an invitation to return for Saturday’s Pukekohe meeting.