Following dawn services around the country commemorating past servicemen and women on ANZAC Day, the racing industry will do the same at their two meetings on Saturday.
Underrated sprinter First Five produced a barnstorming finish to capture his first stakes victory when he took out the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa.
Former Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Sharp ‘N’ Smart returned to the scene of that 2023 triumph to take out the Gr.3 SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m) in a thrilling three-way finish to the Te Rapa staying feature.
A change of tactics that saw promising mare Hinekaha go straight to the front from barrier rise paved the way for her biggest success when she scored a game win in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa.
Improving six-year-old Agera stepped into open company for the first time in Sunday’s Vision Complete Earthworks/Stronger Together (1600m) at Te Rapa, and he passed that test and carried on his winning way.
A return to black-type competition is just around the corner for Midnight Edition, who kicked off his four-year-old season with a runaway victory in the Power Farming – We Keep You Growing (1200m) at Te Rapa on Sunday.
