Tony Pike pulled the right rein with a quick back up for his rising staying star Chenille, who will now head for the spelling paddock on a perfect note.
The Cambridge trainer had no hesitation in sending Pentire's daughter south for yesterday's Listed Fasttrackinsurance Hawke's Bay Gold Cup, which she duly added to her record after a third placing in the Te Aroha Cup a week ago.
"I was really happy with that run on a track that wasn't playing easily," Pike said. "We had to ride her conservatively as it was four weeks between runs for her and she got a long way back. With the bias on the day we weren't a winning chance, but she finished off well and was a lot fitter for the run."
Chenille enjoyed a good run in midfield at Hastings before rider Danielle Johnson found herself in a spot of bother.
"Obviously she had a pull in the weights, but it was still a good effort," Pike said. "They got held up at the 600 and were going backward when they should have been going forward."
They rounded the home bend out widest and Chenille hit top gear in the straight to post a record-breaking win. She set a new mark for the 2200 metres when she clocked 2m 12.89s to beat the previous best of 2m 12.99s run by Mr Brooker in April, 1990.
"We're heading into the winter now and she's done a good job this preparation," Pike said. "She deserves a break."
- NZ Racing Desk