David Walsh is an aggressive front-running jockey as the opposition found out when he combined with Elblitzem in an effortless victory in the $70,000 feature at Awapuni yesterday.
Elblitzem carried solid form into the Group Three Merial Ancare Metric Mile and Walsh rated the 6-year-old to perfection throughout striding clearmidway down the home straight to win by 3 lengths over Kuda Mahal with a further 2 lengths back to Yanna Marie.
Walsh was allowed to control the race tempo and the opposition paid the consequences.
Two runners caught the eye - Alagant Satin and Six O'Clock News - settling well off the speed and closed quickly on the leaders wide out at the finish.
The victory was a pleasing start to the season for Te Awamutu trainers Robert Priscott and Clayton Chipperfield. Last season Priscott experienced a staggering run of injuries with stable runners.
THE FATHER AND SON training partnership of Keith and Brendon Hawtin have produced an impressive early season 2-year-old in the form of Elle Tresor, who scored at Ruakaka.
The daughter of Le Bec Fin won by 2 lengths over Napali with a further 3 lengths back to Diamonds In Time.
The Hawtins previously trained in partnership with Stephen Autridge at Te Awamutu but Autridge has relocated to Matamata.
In her one trial to prepare her for race day Elle Tresor recorded a victory over Napali.
LOCAL TRAINERS Donna and Dean Logan and Chris Gibbs were in ruthless form at Ruakaka, winning four of the 10-race card.
Jet Setter, El Presidente, Ima Lady and C'mon Cuba recorded impressive victories and the quartet were heavily supported.
RICHARD COLLETT produced Mill Duckie fresh-up after a five-month spell and without a trial.
The Pukekohe Park-based trainer has a high opinion of Mill Duckie and the mare justified that with a neck victory over Who Knows with a further long head back to The Heckler (third).
Mill Duckie had a massive 5kg pull in the weight conditions of the race over the second-placed Who Knows (58kg) and this proved a decisive factor over the concluding stages.
Mill Duckie has eight wins and two placings from 13 starts.
The 4-year-old daughter of Magic Ring will not be difficult to place this season with a number of fillies and mares events an obvious target for Collett who has a strong team.
