Tauherenikau meeting back on track

Thousands of punters packed the banks at the Tauherenikau Racecourse to soak up the atmosphere and excitement of the Waitangi Day races in breezy conditions yesterday.
There was the usual fanfare of fancy-clad dresses and the occasional conspicuous hat to go with an array of fine wine and food.
Though the event was clearly family-friendly with plenty of entertainment for the kids, including an under-5s foot race that drew one of the biggest cheers of the day when one competitor could not be stopped and scampered an additional 200m down the track before finally running out of steam.
Wairarapa Racing Club organisers were thankful the weather played its part after copping a financial blow when the unseasonable cold ruined the first meet of the year on January 2.
General manager Jenny Fenwick estimated the well-behaved crowd could have tipped 7000, which was a huge boost for the club.
"We lost a lot of ground on January 2, it was so cold that it kept a lot of people away so it was very important we have a good day today," she said.
"We were very disappointed with the weather but it's out of your control so you just have to accept it.
"We actually prefer it breezy like this because it keeps the crowd cool.
"When it's too hot it's just sweltering and everyone stays under the trees but today is perfect for getting them all out on the grass and watching the racing."
Mrs Fenwick said the event had run smoothly throughout with the food stalls and bookies doing a roaring trade.
The woodfire pizzas had proved particularly popular, she said.
"It's a pretty typical Tauherenikau family crowd which is great to see.
"All the children's entertainment has been free and it's worked out really well."
In the day's feature race outsider Vercors stormed home over the last 200m to reign in favourite Zilzie and win the Cambridge Thoroughbred Lodge Breeders Stakes mile.
The Awapuni Stables-trained mare from Palmerston North was at $16.80 odds to claim line honours but showed a strong late kick to come from sixth on the final turn while hot pre-race prospect Primavera took a photo-finish third.
Vercors trainer Roydon Bergerson said every win was always a good win and was quick to praise the efforts of experienced jockey Darryl Bradley.
"You're never confident in a good field such as this was but she was drawn well and ridden extremely well by Darryl so she had every chance to win."
Bradley was likewise ecstatic with the victory, saying it was "great to pull one off".