Racing: 'League of nations' in omen win

Green Jacket races away with the Cooksley Tankard Handicap at Ellerslie yesterday.

It had to be the omen bet of the century.

Green Jacket won impressively at Ellerslie yesterday - only hours after Angel Cabrera picked up the green jacket at Augusta after victory in the US Masters playoff.

And Green Jacket was just as impressive as the Argentinian - also saving his best for last.

This was a "league of nations" victory.

Green Jacket is by Australian sire Thorn Park out of a mare by an American stallion Success Express, is owned in Hong Kong and trained by a Frenchman in Yves Seguin.

The only Kiwi involvement was winning jockey Craig Grylls.

"This is a pretty smart horse," said Grylls after he guided Green Jacket from clear last approaching the home turn.

Grylls cut the corner to avoid covering too much extra ground and pulled Green Jacket to the outside in the home straight.

Green Jacket will eventually end up racing in Hong Kong, but there are no plans to send him there soon.

"Mr Li enjoys his horses racing down this way for a while," said Seguin.

The Cambridge trainer is keen to aim Green Jacket at the $85,000 group three Windsor Park Cambridge Breeders Stakes at Te Rapa on April 25.

"The 1200m is a bit short for him, but it is only for 3-year-olds and that suits."

Green Jacket disposed of older horses yesterday.

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Retired trainer Trevor McKee knows when he's been lucky to win - but he was happy to accept the spoils when his own horse, Regality, was successful on Legends Day at Elerslie.

A Legend himself, Trevor McKee owns Regality with wife Noeleen and the couple were fortunate third-placed Veronica Franco decided to race greenly on her debut and throw away her winning chance.

It's well documented that juveniles with little experience can race more greenly at Ellerslie than any other track, probably because of the expansive landscape that greets horses coming up the home straight.

Veronica Franco managed to keep a straight line when winning at the Pukekohe barrier trials a couple of weeks ago.

The filly looked to have the race safely won yesterday, but lost her chance when she ducked outwards in the closing stages and was narrowly beaten.

Co-trainer Roger James was disappointed stable rider Andrew Calder did not pull his whip through from his right inside hand to his left hand in an attempt to straighten the filly.

"I had another fight on my hands in the inquiry room battling with the stipes to avoid having to send her back to the trials to prove she could run straight," said a frustrated James.

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Veteran owner Herbie Dyke was in good form after winning the other 2-year-old race with Tossed And Turned.

The Pukekohe filly deserved her win after two races that did not reflect her true ability.

Following a promising third two starts back when having only her third start, she tailed the field behind Te Akau Rose on a wet track in the Breeders Stakes at Matamata, then reared and lost her rider Craig Grylls last start on the same track.

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Auckland Racing Club director Doug Alderslade had a win at his own track when Tachus caused an upset in the T J McKee Trophy.

Alderslade races Tachus with his trainer Moira Murdoch and her
husband Michael.

Moira Murdoch is campaigning in Australia where she has had success in the past and watched on television.

"That was good. Craig [Grylls] rode him well, he did exactly what we asked him to do," said Alderslade.

"The horse covered ground last start and we said to Craig to be close up or even lead if he had to."

Tachus sat outside the pacemaking Shodan and in a great fight just got the upper hand.

Tachus is one of the few by stallion Lord Ballina that cannot handle wet tracks.

"Our only concern today was the dead footing - he's never been happy in it," said Alderslade.