An autumn trip to Canterbury has turned out to be career-defining for Matamata mare Sassy Merlot, who added a valuable black-type win to her record in Saturday’s Listed Daphne Bannan Memorial Great Easter Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton.
After leading all the way to claim his first black-type win in last year’s Gr.3 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (2300m), Sagunto returned to defend that crown with an even more spectacular front-running performance at Trentham on Saturday.
The final day of the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival has been a happy hunting ground for Alby MacGregor and Times Ticking, and the Opaki trainer is hoping that continues on Saturday.
Take The Crown has done everything asked of him by trainer Shaun Phelan ahead of his debut at Wanganui on Saturday in the opening juvenile contest of the season.
Four-time premiership-winning jockey Lisa Allpress has recently taken an enforced injury layoff from the sport, but returned to raceday riding at Otaki last Friday, with her motivation for winning as strong as ever.