Racing: Aide Memoire strikes gold

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Aide Memoire coped admirably with a sharp rise in class to strike the first stakes-winning blow of her fledgling career.

The four-year-old took on open company for the first time in the Listed James Bull Rangitikei Gold Cup and she passed the test with flying colours for the fifth win of her 11-start career.

"It was a big step up for her, but she only had the 53kg," Marton trainer Fraser Auret said.

Aide Memoire had won her previous start at Otaki where she carried five and a half kilos more to a runaway victory against Rating 75 company.

The Remind mare has only once failed to earn a cheque with that unplaced effort on a heavy Awapuni track last winter.

"She didn't handle it then, but she is much bigger and stronger now," Auret said.

Ridden by Robert Hannam, Aide Memoire raced in second place to the turn before she took control on straightening.

Anniesstar pinched ground inside runners from the 800 metre mark and she finished off bravely for second with Endure coming from the back to claim the third prize from Cassie Anne.

The disappointment of the race was Spoke To Carlo, who settled at the tail of the field and failed to make any impression in the run home.

Meanwhile Allan Sharrock might have a battle on his hands to keep hold of the talented two-year-old Mihaul, who will go to the spelling paddock with his unbeaten record intact.

The New Plymouth trainer said overseas interest is sure to intensify in the wake of the youngster's latest win at Awapuni yesterday, but he is hopeful any offers will be knocked back.

"The phone has already been ringing and now he's qualified for Hong Kong it's going to be hard to turn the money down, but I really like this horse and he might just replace Kawi when he retires," Sharrock said of his group one winning stable star.

Mihaul raced in second spot to the turn and was able to get the better of the game front-runner Jimmy Vital in the closing 100 metres with anther debutant in Morethanlucky in third place.

"It was just his class that got him there, he's a lovely animal and time is going to be his friend," rider Jonathan Riddell said.

"He was floundering in the ground on the bend so it was a bit of a slog."