Standing start bad boy Monkey King was on his best behaviour at Addington Raceway last night and made it back-to-back wins in the Group One Easter Cup.
Monkey King made a slick beginning off the back mark of 20m in the $100,000 feature before regular driver Ricky May cut his charge loose to sprint forward and lead over the closing 1100m.
Monkey King unleashed blistering closing 800m and 400m lead sectional times of 56.8 and 27.3 seconds to win by 1 lengths over All Tiger. A further 1 lengths away third was Pembrook Benny.
All honours were with the winner who covered the 3200m in 3:58.2 underlining his true staying ability when on his best behaviour in standing start events.
The win was the first Group One training victory for Christchurch-based Brendon Hill who took over the training of the 6-year-old following the recent departure of Steven Reid from Cavalla Bloodstock.
All Tiger was gallant in defeat after making a terrible mess of the start and settling at the rear before sprinting forward three wide to challenge Monkey King.
Pembrook Benny confirmed himself a genuine free-for-all pacer settling five deep on the inner and sprinting powerfully along the pylons in the home stretch to grab third.
THE MARK PURDON training juggernaut unleashed another age group superstar in the $100,000 (Group One) Welcome Stakes.
Kotare Mach, in the hands of Blair Orange completed a hat-trick of victories. The strapping son of stallion sensation Mach Three ran his age group rivals into submission blasting over the 1950m in 2:21.2 (mile rate 1:56.5) with effortless closing 800m and 400m sectionals of 58.2 and 28 seconds.
Kotare Mach won easing down at the finish by four lengths over Smiling Shard with a further half-head back to Best Chance (third).
The Purdon stable is oozing with talent headed by Auckland Reactor, Sleepy Tripp and Kotare Mach.
It will take an exceptional 2-year-old to lower the colours of Kotare Mach who has a high cruising speed like Auckland Reactor.
Racing: Good manners set stage for Easter Cup victory
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.